What inspired you to join the U.S. military?

I was excited about the opportunity to sail all over the world on NOAA research vessels, conducting applied marine science. The idea of standing a deck watch at the age of 25, entrusted with a 300-foot ship and the lives of 80 souls on board was both daunting and inspiring.

What’s one highlight from your military career?

A memorable experience was sailing aboard NOAA research vessel Malcolm Baldrige for over 120 days in both the Atlantic and Pacific, ranging from Martinique in the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, and then across the Pacific all the way to Vanuatu. I remember when I was in the equatorial Pacific standing the “4 to 8 watch” (4 a.m. to 8 a.m., and then again from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.). I witnessed a beautiful tropical sunrise and sunset each day, and I got to see the setting sun's infamous green flash from the bridge of the ship on clear days.

What led you to join NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries?

I've always thought that NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has a wonderful mission—to protect the nation's ocean treasures. NOAA is a great agency with a fantastic mission, but the National Marine Sanctuary System is really the crème de la crème—a great part of NOAA with some of NOAA's very best people. Just as the U.S. Navy has the Navy Seals, or the Air Force has the Blue Angels, NOAA has the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

How did your military experience prepare you for a role at NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries?

As a NOAA Corps officer, I had the opportunity to work in NOAA's Office of Aviation and Marine Operations and the National Marine Fisheries Service. This experience helps me better understand NOAA overall, how the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries fits into the larger organization, and allows me to build partnerships across NOAA to accomplish our mission at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The leadership and training experiences I have had across three NOAA line offices have helped me be a better leader.

What would you like the public to know or understand about the contributions of veterans at NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries?

Veterans bring both their passion for service and their life experience to sanctuaries, which increases the overall diversity of leadership. One of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ greatest strengths is that its leadership team has been drawn from a wide variety of professional backgrounds—research, resource protection, education, maritime heritage, marine operations, and veterans.

All veterans are committed at their core to service. I really appreciate how the national marine sanctuaries line office is part of the National Ocean Service, and how NOAA also includes the lines offices of the National Weather Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The key word here is “service,” because serving the American people is what motivates me every day.