Meet Our Staff
Patrick A'Hearn
(360) 457-6622 ext. 32
E-mail: Patrick.AHearn@noaa.gov
Patrick A'Hearn is an
Oceanography Specialist who has just begun working at OCNMS. He is working on managing basic oceanographic research for the sanctuary, including the coastal mooring program, hypoxia monitoring, and other water quality sampling. He spends some time in the sanctuary's
near-shore waters aboard the R/V Tatoosh servicing moorings and collecting samples and data, then more time processing and analyzing these data at sanctuary headquarters.
Patrick has an M.S. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Washington (1996), and a B.S. in Environmental Science, Physics and Biology from Creighton University (1992). Before joining the sanctuary, he spent 12 years working under various divisions of the University of Washington, and for most of thta time at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Lab. He has done oceanography and meteorology fieldwork from the Arctic to the Antarctic, with a lot of time spent
in the Tropics between them. But an unfortunate amount of his time was spent in front of computers processing and analyzing the data collected.
Liam Antrim
(360) 457-6622 ext. 16
E-mail: Liam.Antrim@noaa.gov
Liam Antrim is a Resource Protection Specialist who works on marine policy issues, marine debris, oil spill response preparedness, and management plan
review, but likes to stay involved in research programs, particularly monitoring of intertidal communities and nearshore water quality.
In earlier phases of his life, Liam has worked as an aquatic toxicologist, research diver, wildlife biologist, and sailing instructor. As a private consultant for 13 years, he researched the mysteries of sea surface microlayer, sampled biota and substrates, conducted and
developed new methodologies for toxicity testing, surveyed nearshore marine resources, and worked to restore eelgrass habitats. Liam has a B.A. in Biology from Bates College in Maine and a M.S. in Biology/Environmental Studies from Western Washington University in Bellingham.
Tom Baker
(360) 457-6622 ext. 20
E-mail:
Thomas.Baker@noaa.gov
Tom is a Resource Protection Specialist who works in marine policy and environmental enforcement. He is the coordinator for the Sanctuary Advisory Council and the team lead for the marine zone/spatial planning, enforcement, and threat reduction programs. Tom is also involved in voluntary compliance, wildlife disturbance, aviation policy and general aviation issues within the sanctuary.
Prior to joining NOAA, Tom worked in resource economics, law enforcement, and environmental science for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of the Interior. More recently, he was an active duty military officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, and spent several months from May - September 2010 on the gulf coast participating in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response efforts. He is a qualified Coast Guard engineer and a licensed fixed wing aircraft pilot/aviator. In addition to working for NOAA, Tom is currently a Lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
Carol Bernthal
(360) 457-6622 ext. 11
E-mail: Carol.Bernthal@noaa.gov
Carol Bernthal is the Superintendent of the Olympic Coast National Marine
Sanctuary. Her responsibilities at the Sanctuary include all aspects of management of the
site and
staff, policy development, interaction with the Olympic Coast Sanctuary Advisory Council,
working
with local, state, federal agencies and tribes, and serving as a member of the National
Marine
Sanctuary Programs' Leadership Team.
Carol's past work and educational experience
combines natural resource management and environmental policy, with a special emphasis on
working
with tribal governments. Carol graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985
with an
undergraduate degree in Biological Aspects of Conservation and a minor in Environmental
Science.
She has worked for a variety of county, federal, and state agencies in subjects as diverse as
growth management, forestland conservation, watershed restoration and protection, fisheries,
and
plant ecology. Prior to working for NOAA, Carol served as the Senior Habitat Biologist and
Habitat
Program Manager for the Point No Point Treaty Council, a consortium of four Native American
Tribes
on the Olympic Peninsula.
Ed Bowlby
(360) 457-6622 ext. 17
E-mail: Ed.Bowlby@noaa.gov
Ed Bowlby is Research Coordinator for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
He
holds an M.S. in Marine Wildlife from Humboldt State University.
His professional background has consisted of marine wildlife population
studies
and ecological investigations around the world, from Arctic and Antarctic environments, to
tropical
seas. In his current position, he coordinates diverse research projects on subtidal surveys
for
macroinvertebrates and macroalgae; canopy kelp mapping; plankton investigations and at-sea
surveys
for marine mammals and seabirds. He is also a NOAA working diver.
Ed has worked as Chief Scientist during many NOAA sponsored cruises off the
Olympic coast and as Mission Coordinator and submersible pilot for the Sustainable Seas
Expeditions
and Sanctuary Quest cruises in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Ed considers
himself
an old-time naturalist in its broadest meaning.
Katie Brenkman
(360) 457-6622 ext. 27
E-mail: Katie.Brenkman@noaa.gov
Katie is a Research Technician for the Olympic Coast National Marine
Sanctuary, and
works with the Research, Education and Policy divisions of the sanctuary. She is an
expeditor for
field projects, creating and managing research and policy databases, and assists the web
team.
Katie also is involved with Data processing and GIS for the Area To Be Avoided (ATBA)
project.
Additionally, Katie edits deep-sea digital video used for research and public outreach.
Katie received a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Oregon State University. She
joined
the OCNMS in 2001, and most recently worked for the State Board for Community and Technical
Colleges in Olympia where she managed a statewide education database. Katie has worked as a
data
manager, technical support representative for Microsoft, Computer Lab technician, river raft
guide
and environmental education instructor.
Jennifer Bright
(360) 457-6622 ext. 25
E-mail: Jennifer.Bright@noaa.gov
Jennifer Bright is a Marine Biologist that assists with various research and
resource protection programs at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Her work for the
sanctuary involves performing habitat characterization, and invertebrate research including
deep sea corals using video observations to determine areas of species richness, ecological
diversity and unique habitats. She also assists with sand beach and rocky intertidal
monitoring designed to detect changes in vital signs as an early warning system.
She also works on marine debris programs.
Jennifer graduated with an M.S. in Earth and Environmental Science from
Washington State University. Her thesis involved assessing the abundance and distribution
of structure-forming invertebrates, their association with demersal fishes, and identifying
their associated habitats using video and direct observations from the two person submersible
Delta. The research site is located in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary at the
"Footprint" off the southern coast of California. One of her main species of interest was the
large, newly described deep sea black coral, Antipathes dendrochristos.
While at Washington State University, Jennifer taught Stream Monitoring.
She also participated in IMPACT submersible baseline surveys off the central California coast.
These surveys were designed to monitor deepwater communities in eight newly formed marine
protected areas and eight adjacent reference sites using direct observations. Previous
research work included using ROPOS submersible video to identify structure-forming
invertebrates and their associated habitats at Astoria Canyon, Heceta Bank and Coquille
Bank off the Oregon coast.
Eric Evans
(360) 457-6622 ext. 24
E-mail: Eric.Evans@noaa.gov
Eric currently works with OCNMS running its computer network and managing the
voluminous
amounts of scientific data accumulated over the field season. Eric is a contractor assigned
to
OCNMS from his parent company System Configuration Service, Inc.
Eric Evans was born in Anchorage, Alaska in 1963. With 3 biologists in his
family, Eric rebelled and chose computers as his profession. But those old episodes of
"Jacques
Cousteau" and "Wild Kingdom" clearly rubbed off and in 1999 when OCNMS needed an on-site IT
consultant, Eric jumped at the chance. So far, he hasn't been called upon to fix
transmitters deep
on the ocean floor or wrestle a tracking beacon onto a wolf eel, but he did get to ride on
the R/V
Tatoosh once.
Eric has a BA from Fairhaven College. He is MCSE and A+ certified. After
college,
Eric married and moved to the Peninsula with his wife Loraine. Eric's interests include
Macintosh/Windows cross-platform management, network infrastructure, dining by candlelight
and long
walks in the rain.
Richard A. Fletcher
(360) 457-6622 ext. 32
E-mail: Rick.Fletcher@noaa.gov
Rick is currently Skipper of the OCNMS research vessel Tatoosh.
He began his career with NOAA in 1984 as a Physical Scientist Technician at the Pacific Marine
Environmental Laboratory. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography from the
University of Washington in 1985 and commissioned in the NOAA Corps later that same year.
Rick is now a retired NOAA Corps Officer with over 7 years sea duty on various class vessels.
Primary ship assignments included Fairweather, Ranier, Whiting, and Oceanographer. His NOAA
career was primarily focused on support of Coast Survey missions supporting safe navigation
nationwide. Assignments included Office of Coast Survey positions as Deputy Navigation Services
Division, Chief Navigation Response Branch, and Chief Pacific Hydrographic Party.
Rick Fletcher has served in a variety of additional challenging positions:
- Logistics Officer for the NMFS Laboratory at Auke Bay, AK during the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill response
- Technical Assistant, NOAA Dive Center
- Technical Assistant, Pacific Hydrographic Branch
- Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Notable awards include:
- Department of Commerce Silver Medal
- USCG Accommodation Medal
- Five NOAA Special Achievement Awards
- Two Society of Military Engineers KARO awards
- USCG Special Operations service ribbon
Carey Floyd
(360) 457-6622 ext. 23
E-mail: Carey.Floyd@noaa.gov
Carey Floyd has been a graphic artist in the Puget Sound area since 1996. She
started
contracting with the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in 2001. Her work for the
sanctuary
includes graphic design, web design, posters, illustrations, video editing, and large-scale
event
displays.
Carey spends much of her free time asleep or on her motorcycle. She believes seagulls are
vastly
underappreciated.
George Galasso
(360) 457-6622 ext. 12
E-mail: George.Galasso@noaa.gov
George Galasso has worked for NOAA since
1982
and has been Assistant Manager of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary since the 1994
designation. George has a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management from the College of
Environmental Science and Forestry and a Masters of Marine Affairs from the University of
Washington.
Since joining NOAA, George has served on three NOAA vessels, piloting
vessels
through the inside passage of BC and Alaska and participating in research cruises from the
Arctic
to the South Pacific. He has years of experience in policy analysis, operational planning,
data
collection and analysis. He is currently involved in implementing Sanctuary resource
protection
programs and preparing for the Sanctuary's upcoming management plan review.
Norma Klein
(360) 457-6622 ext. 10
E-mail: Norma.Klein@noaa.gov
Norma Klein has been on board as Administrative Support Assistant since November
of
2000. She deals with accounts payable and office management.
She has eight years experience as an office manager and bookkeeper. She
earned her
Associate of Applied Science in Accounting/Business from Peninsula College.
She has lived on the Olympic Peninsula for the last 25 years.
Janet Lamont
(360) 457-6622 ext. 31
E-mail: janet.lamont@noaa.gov
Janet Lamont is the Volunteer Coordinator and Manager of the Olympic Coast
Discovery Center located near the OCNMS headquarters in Port Angeles. She coordinates and
trains
the dedicated volunteers in the discovery center as well as interacts with the general
public.
Janet also helps connect volunteers and researchers at OCNMS.
In an earlier life Janet was a classroom teacher and library media
specialist for
the Edmonds
School District. A graduate of the University of Washington, she has always been an outdoor
enthusiast enjoying hiking, mountain climbing, boating and fishing, scuba diving and nature
photography.
Janet began working at the Olympic Coast Discovery Center as a volunteer
docent in
July, 2004. She
has greeted visitors from around the world and enjoyed introducing them to the National
Marine
Sanctuary program and the Olympic Coast. She recently spent ten days on the NOAA research
vessel
McArthur II photographing seabirds and marine mammals in sanctuary waters.
Jacqueline Laverdure
(360) 457-6622 ext. 21
E-mail: Jacqueline.Laverdure@noaa.gov
Jacqueline Laverdure is an Education Specialist for the Olympic
Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Jacqueline plans and implements education and outreach
programs and activities that inspire ocean conservation. She conducts teacher workshops,
student field studies, and tribal youth programs. She also assists in coordinating
volunteer programs that support Olympic Coast Discovery Center and Washington Coast Cleanup.
Jacqueline is originally from Brookfield, Connecticut, and graduated from the University
of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Marketing. In 1994
she moved to Key West, Florida where she earned a United States Coast Guard 100 Tons
Masters license.
She tries to spend most of her time on or near the ocean. She has crewed and skippered
vessels in Key West, Florida for close to fourteen years, sailed the Atlantic Seaboard,
completed one trans-Atlantic voyage, and logged over 16,000 nautical miles sailing the
coastal waters of Venezuela and the Caribbean.
Jacqueline recently joined the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Team and is excited
to explore and share the beauty of the Olympic Coast.
Heidi Pedersen
(360) 457-6622 ext. 31
E-mail: Heidi.Pedersen@noaa.gov
Heidi Pedersen is a Volunteer Coordinator and Manager of the Olympic
Coast
Discovery Center located near the OCNMS headquarters in Port Angeles. She coordinates and
trains
the
dedicated volunteers in the discovery center as well as interacts with the general public.
Heidi
also helps connect volunteers and researchers at OCNMS.
Before working for OCNMS, Heidi was (and still is) a volunteer for the
COASST
program. She has
worked for the Olympic National Park, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, private
conservation
organizations, and was a volunteer for the Nature Conservancy on Santa Cruz Island in
California.
Two of her favorite volunteer adventures were performing bird surveys in Arctic National
Wildlife
Refuge and counting ants in the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica. However, since 1992,
she
has been most content exploring the Olympic Peninsula.
Heidi graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in
Spanish.
Robert Steelquist
(360) 457-6622 ext. 19
E-mail: Robert.Steelquist@noaa.gov
Robert Steelquist is a writer, naturalist
and
educator. Since December, 1994, Bob has been Education Coordinator for Olympic Coast National
Marine Sanctuary. Prior to working for NOAA, he was an environmental planner with Puget Sound
Water
Quality Authority where he administered an environmental education grants program and
provided
technical assistance in education and public involvement to local governments, school
districts,
non-profits and Indian tribes.
He has also worked as Publications Manager for the Washington Department of
Wildlife, director of the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Lab, a marine science education center,
naturalist
for Olympic National Park, clerk for the Washington State legislature and as a freelance
writer and
journalist. He has authored 12 books on the environment and natural history. His Bachelor's
and
Master's degrees are in the area of environmental policy from The Evergreen State College.
Nathan Witherly
(360) 457-6622 ext. 14
E-mail: Nathan.Witherly@noaa.gov
Nathan Witherly was born in Reno, NV and his family moved to Toronto, Canada, where he grew up. He attended high school and college in California, graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Biology. Nathan spent about a year working for NMFS as a Fisheries Observer on the East Coast. After six months of crewing on sailboats across the Atlantic to Europe, he joined the US Coast Guard. He served on the USCGC Sockeye (WPB 87337) out of Bodega Bay, CA and the USCGC Activ (WMEC 618) out of Port Angeles, WA. After his four year tour, Nathan joined the NOAA Corps and spent three months as Alaska Port Captain, Ketchikan, AK before a three year tour on the Oscar Dyson (R224) out of Kodiak, AK.
Nancy Wright
(360) 457-6622 ext. 18
E-mail: Nancy.Wright@noaa.gov
Nancy is the geographer for the Olympic
Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Her responsibility is to further the sanctuary's active
seafloor habitat mapping program and build a habitat classification system that supports
coastal and deepwater ecosystem-based management. She also contributes GIS expertise to
research in kelp communities, mammal and seabird monitoring, and deepwater coral/sponge
habitats. Nancy's overarching interest is public outreach and communication, using GIS as a
'voice' for the sanctuary's research and science initiatives.
Nancy's undergraduate studies at the University of Idaho, Moscow, focused on
wildlife-habitat relationship models, threatened and endangered species, and the identification
of statewide conservation priorities using GIS. She is currently an MS student in the University's
Water Resources department with an emphasis on tribal law and land use policy. Before college and
a career in natural resources, Nancy spent 20 years living in India and the Middle East, studying
Sanskrit and eastern theology.
Contact for page content: Robert Steelquist
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