Petaluma, California, United States
I am a US Federal employee with over 16 years of professional environmental conservation and compliance experience. Currently, I'm working for NMFS helping to ensure compliance with multiple environmental regulations for fisheries activities. Previously, I collectively worked for 5 years with the Department of the Interior which includes serving as a Renewable Energy Specialist with BOEM, previously representing BOEM as part of the Arctic Council Delegation, completing a detail to OMB for USGS budget execution, and finishing a 1-year SCEP internship with USFWS for ESA consultations. I also worked with the U.S. Air Force for 8 years including 3 years as a supervisor, 6 years of managing NEPA and 4 years of applying NHPA Section 106. I also have over 4 years of environmental science teaching experience at the high school and university levels. My proud achievements include becoming a Presidential Management Fellow, a certified Project Management Professional, and a recipient of multiple awards including Civilian Manager of the Year and 2 Meritorious Civilian Service Awards.
• Support the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) program to help ensure compliance with NEPA and other applicable Federal environmental statutes such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other Federal, State, and local regulations, statutes, policies, and Executive Orders. • Assist in technical advisory, analysis, and recommendations in the development, interpretation, or application of the principal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) environmental policies and critical criteria. • Develop and implement improvements to increase compliance program efficiency and effectiveness while maintaining the highest standards. • Coordinate and engage with counterparts in other NMFS offices in the review of NEPA documents, joint permitting and consultation, and overall approach to satisfying statutory requirements under environmental laws.
• Served as the lead for California offshore wind energy planning efforts. Coordinated with Federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, scientific groups, fishing communities, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to understand potential impacts from offshore wind energy development. • Led working groups, interagency task forces, and represented the agency in public meetings and other related forums. • Managed, monitored, and ensured regulatory compliance of activities of an offshore wind energy company covering an 80,000 acre lease area valued at $145M. • Served as a Contracting Officer's Representative for multiple contracts valued at $200K each. • Developed briefing documents and presented status of BOEM processes and studies to congressional representatives, public stakeholders, government officials, and tribal organizations. • Reviewed and analyzed pertinent energy-related directives and regulatory legislative proposals and provide management analyses of the implications of such energy related proposals on regional and bureau level activities. • Assisted in developing guidelines, policy directives, rule-making activities and standard operating procedures for BOEM staff. • Developed work products (ex. Federal Register notices, decision memo's, briefing documents, etc.) in consultation with BOEM personnel, stakeholders, and other government entities.
• Served as Chief of the Environmental Element and supervise 16 employees covering 15 interdisciplinary environmental programs and support over $1.48 billion dollars in base wide construction. • Forecasted, programed, and managed a $193K environmental budget, as well as develop, negotiate and monitor a broad range of environmental compliance and pollution prevention projects through various contracts valued at $400K. • Prepared and delivered quarterly Environmental Management System (EMS) compliance status presentations to base leadership. • Developed near & long-term 7 strategic environmental plans, including the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, based on Air Force level goals and objectives in order to meet installation requirements. • Identifed strategic sourcing opportunities and leverage a variety of execution methods to ensure efficient delivery of products and services. • Filled 4 vacancies and secured additional contract support needed to execute a growing environmental mission. • Coordinated and integrated Air Force actions with regulatory agencies, serving as liaison between installation, higher headquarters, and UK regulatory authorities. • Won two General Thomas D White Environmental Awards for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and runner up in the entire U.S. Air Force for: best Natural Resources Conservation – Small Installation and best National Environmental Policy Act Team.
• Served as Deputy Chief to the Environmental Element and managed 16 employees covering 15 interdisciplinary environmental programs; represented the element in high level briefings to leadership and oversaw a budget of $600K as needed. • Administered the Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) program, the US Air Force's method for applying NEPA overseas. Supported more than $1.48 billion in military construction and collaborated with subject matter experts, analyzed data and made informed decisions on environmental compliance. • Managed the Unit Environmental Coordinator (UEC) program for the installation, ensuring over 180 shops conduct daily operations in accordance with United States and United Kingdom environmental, safety and occupational health laws. • Initiated the base Air Quality Management Program from scratch. Researched requirements, developed contract documents, and programmed a project to establish a base-wide air emissions inventory that will serve as a baseline for emerging host nation environmental laws. • Established a new method to append UK analyses to processed NEPA documents that will carry UK requirements through AF project programming.
• Spearheaded the base’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) program by coordinating on and managing 15 Environmental Assessments and two Environmental Impact Statements valued at $2.7 million in support of $85 million in engineering projects. • Analyzed $250M in civil engineering projects for potential impacts to environmental resources such as air and water quality, sensitive habitats and wetlands, as well as threatened and endangered species. • With USFWS, facilitated on Sikes Act responsibilities, conservation actions, and recovery efforts for multiple listed species including California tiger salamander, vernal pool fairy shrimp, and Contra Costa goldfields. • When performing project assessments, collaborated and negotiated with subject matter experts and AF leadership to ensure projects adhere to Federal and State environmental regulations. • Elected by the base Wing Commander to serve as the first Installation Tribal Liaison Officer. Represented Travis AFB in meetings and negotiations with federally recognized Native American tribes on Air Force issues. Conducted Government-to-Government consultations and resolved tribal concerns on behalf of the base Commander for engineering projects that may impact cultural resources. • Harnessed scientific knowledge to compose and coordinate Clean Water Act Section 401/404 permits, Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultations, National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultations and NEPA Environmental Assessments/Environmental Impact Statements that ensure civil engineering projects comply with Federal and State environmental regulations.
• Represented the Nation as a member of the US Delegation to the Arctic Council’s Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment. Negotiated with international partners to develop policy and non-emergency pollution prevention and control measures. • Collaborated on a pan-Arctic Marine Protected Area network framework, oil and gas drilling safety practices, Arctic shipping, and engagement procedures with Arctic communities. • Coordinated Coastal Marine Spatial Planning under the National Ocean Policy for the Alaska region. Fostered partnerships with Federal, State, local, and tribal entities in creating effective regional working groups that discussed streamlined management strategies of natural resource development and environmental impacts. • Prepared analytical, technical, and program decision documents to stakeholders that explained agency decisions and how they were accommodated in relation to national and international policies and agreements.
• Managed $1 billion budget, policies, and programs of the U.S. Geological Survey portfolio and numerous cross-cutting budget issues including climate change, ecosystem restoration (San Francisco Bay Delta and Chesapeake Bay), water resources, hydraulic fracturing, energy and minerals, remote sensing and mapping. • Analyzed, developed, and directed recommendations for program and management improvements including potential budgetary and policy proposals to senior managers and policy officials. • Collaborated with other offices in the Executive Office of the President on natural resource and science policy issues and debated methods agencies can use to meet the President’s agenda.