Silas Deroma Email & Phone Number

Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States

Los Alamos Nm

Supervise Site Office legal staff and represent the United States’ interests in the areas of environmental and procurement law. Environmental law duties include the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Clean Water Act; the Clean Air Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and general environmental issues such as real estate transfers and licenses. Procurement duties include providing legal opinions and assistance on contract administration issues such as contract oversight of litigation management, serving as the Contracting Officer’s Representative for litigation management issues, and advising our Contracting Officers on legal issues involving the Management and Operating Contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory. Also serve as Ethics Counselor and provide legal opinions and assistance to employees on a wide range of federal ethics issues including acceptance of gifts, conflicts of interest and post-employment restrictions. Responsible for legal reviews involving fiscal law and the Freedom of Information Act. Experience includes participation in civil litigation, administrative hearings, and numerous policy discussions and coordination with NNSA Headquarters.

Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq

Served as the Chief, Rule of Law Section in support of the 4th Infantry Division in Operation New Dawn at COB Speicher, Iraq. Worked with 4th Infantry Division staff, subordinate units, and Department of State Provincial Reconstruction Teams in developing rule of law for northern Iraq. Involved in planning and development relating to ethnic relations in northern Iraq, primarily involving Arab and Kurdish relations. Assisted 4th Infantry Division leadership in long range planning as well as providing advice on resolution of ethnic tensions.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Supervised and managed the legal and support personnel of the GCPI Office in support of the Pacific Islands Region of NOAA Fisheries. Providing legal reviews and supervising legal reviews of regulatory actions supporting fishery management plans executed under the Magnuson Stevens Act and involving the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and other applicable laws and international agreements. Served as the legal advisor to the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council. Participating as part of a team that oversaw transition of fisheries management from species-based management to ecosystem-based management. Part of a team that involved establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument (now Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument). Received the United States Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Federal Service for my performance as part of that team.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Army components in Hawaii on a broad range of environmental law issues involving NEPA, the ESA, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and hazardous waste laws such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Defended the interests of the United States in litigation involving environmental statutes and the United States Constitution. Litigation involved claims under the Administrative Procedure Act, NEPA, the Federal Land Policy Management Act, and the NHPA. Additional litigation work involved representing the United States in legal and equitable claims asserted by Indian tribes under the general Indian trust theory and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Significant cases included working with the Department of the Interior, the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, and the American Battle Monuments Commission to successfully defend against a challenge to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., a challenge to the BLM reclamation of the Zortman-Landusky mines in the Little Rocky Mountains in North Central Montana, and challenges involving Indian gaming in Alaska and tribal recognition.

Master'S Degree, Strategic Studies

Master Of Laws (Llm), Environmental Law

Doctor Of Law (Jd), Law

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Political Science

Activities and Societies: Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Fighting Texas Aggie Band