• Secured authorizing legislation pertaining to global climate change, ocean acidification, ocean observing, ocean exploration, National Sea Grant Program, ocean and coastal mapping, and oceanographic and marine mammal research. • Advanced the programmatic goals of the Census of Marine Life and the National Oceanographic Partnership Program with members of Congress and Federal Agencies.• Monitored ocean policy issues in U.S. Congress and federal agencies and provided information on academic oceanographic issues to Congressional decision-makers.• Analyzed the impact and effect of various policy and legislative proposals, prepared testimony and correspondence to Congress, and provided legislative drafting assistance on issues of concern to the ocean science community.• Maintained real-time ocean research budget status information and expertise for the federal budgets of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautic and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation.• Advocated for ocean research and conservation in the federal appropriations process.• Coordinated and developed Ocean Leadership’s legislative and policy positions with a network of congressional affairs liaisons at member institutions, Ocean Leadership staff, federal ocean agencies and Congressional committees and offices.• Prepared written and verbal reports on Congressional and Executive Branch activities for Ocean Leadership’s members and inclusion in Ocean Leadership’s weekly report and its web page.• Met with congressional staff, federal agency personnel and representatives of ocean interest groups to advocate for Ocean Leadership’s positions and discuss policy matters important to the academic oceanographic community.

Manages special projects, develops project plans, convenes meetings, identifies and involves participants, manages meetings, completes meeting reports, and facilitates actions called for in meeting results.• Assists the Executive Director in investigating issues of ocean policy and conservation of marine mammals and ecosystems, fisheries, human-caused noise, harmful algal blooms, disease, contaminants, climate change, oil and gas operations, commercial shipping, and coastal development.• Assists the Executive Director with the management of Commission reports.• Represents the Commission at various meetings with federal agencies, industry groups, non-governmental organizations, and other interested stakeholders.• Assists the Executive Director and other senior staff with review of key ocean policy and conservation topics and development of recommendations related to research and management strategies.

• Directed programs to conserve depleted, threatened, and endangered marine mammals, sea turtles, and other protected species. • Supervised staff, prepared workplans and budgets, engaged in strategic planning, prepared proposals for fundraising and membership acquisition. • Conducted congressional lobbying, analyzed legislation, drafted legislative provisions, media and public relations materials. • Briefed members of Congress and agency decision-makers, testified at public and congressional hearings, prepared Federal Register comments, agency correspondence, testimony, reports, briefing documents, and scientific articles. • Advocated for fishery and protected species conservation through the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management Act (MSA) and the National Environmental Policy Act. • Led conservation community efforts to reauthorize the MMPA and secure passage of the Marine Mammal Health Stranding and Response Act and the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 2000. • Led expeditions to Navassa Island and the Dominican Republic, partnered with state and federal agencies to remove derelict fishing gear from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. • Represented non-governmental conservation organizations in international negotiations, led negotiations to establish the Panama Declaration and Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP), and served on The International Review Panel of the AIDCP. • Participated on the Marine Mammal Protection Act’s working group for marine mammal unusual mortality events reviewing stranding and health data and overseeing the investigation of marine mammal mortality events. • Participated in conflict resolution groups, to reduce the entanglement of marine mammals in commercial fisheries, establish regulations to govern the captivity of marine mammals, and address the impacts of sound on marine mammals.

• NOAA Mussel Watch Program Field Task Leader—coordinated field logistics and participated in field collection activities. Skilled in the use of oceanographic equipment (including bottom grabs, dredges, Nisken bottles, GPS navigation, small craft operation. Prepared cost sheets, monthly and final project reports.• EPA Ocean Monitoring Program, Water Quality Chemist--conducted shipboard instrumental analyses for temperature, salinity, pH, total suspended solids, turbidity, ATP, chlorophyll, and dissolved oxygen on EPA ocean dumping and ocean incineration cruises. • Trace Metal Chemist--prepared, digested, and analyzed tissue and sediment samples by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry.• Proficient in infrared spectrophotometry, biochemical assays, electrophoresis, thin layer chromatography, glucose, lipid, and carbohydrate analyses.