Education & Professional Experience

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Field Operations Manager - Global Tropical Moored Buoy Array (GTMBA) Program. University of Washington (UW)/ Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies (CICOES)/ National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/ Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), Seattle, WA.

August 2020 – Present.

• Develop detailed cruise planning documents for distribution to foreign partners; initiate and maintain timely planning dialogue and logistics coordination with foreign and domestic partners on various platforms including vessels operated by NOAA, National Science Foundation (NSF), chartered vessels and international partners.

• Serve as primary point of contact within the project for field operations; maintain clear communications with project personnel and international partners during research cruises to ensure critical time-sensitive information is received and necessary actions are taken

• Collaborate with employees to establish goals and performance time lines; coach employees and serve as employee advocate as well as conduct performance reviews.

• Synchronize cruise staffing schedules and designate staffing assignments; schedule, prepare, and lead pre- and post-cruise meetings.

• Perform real-time data quality analysis of wind, temperature, humidity, rainfall, shortwave and longwave radiation, barometric pressure, salinity and current velocity data from moored buoys and various other data sources.

• Serve as Chief Scientist on GTMBA Cruises or senior technical representative on ships of opportunity both domestic and international; responsible for the successful recovery and deployment of GTMBA surface and subsurface moorings while at sea; direct project staff and consult with the ship’s personnel in how to safely perform deployments/recovery mooring operations within the capabilities and limitations of the platform and crew.

• Act as liaison between project mooring technicians, data scientists and managers including writing and compiling notes that document instrument tests and upgrades, field experiments, procedural changes, software bugs, etc.

• Sustain field operations statistics database; respond to public requests for GTMBA information, data and graphics.

HOT - SCOPE Program Operations Manager. Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

August 2016 – July 2020.

• Coordinates, organizes, implements, and supervises Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) and Simons Collaboration for Ocean Processes and Ecology (SCOPE) field operations and science technicians.

• Participates in regular field based oceanographic research cruises, including frequently serving as Chief Scientist.

• Coordinates with HOT and SCOPE principal investigators on operations management, personnel management, logistical planning, and implementation for science support and field operations.

• Organizes, coordinates, and implements logistics meetings to facilitate HOT- SCOPE personnel communication and coordination of science and field logistics.

• Prepares written reports, travels to and presents at conferences and workshops.

• Maintains research laboratories at UH Mānoa and UH Marine Center.

• Performs duties listed below for SCOPE Field Operations Coordinator and C-MORE Hale Laboratory Manager.

SCOPE Field Operations Coordinator. Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

November 2014 – July 2020.

• Coordinates, organizes, implements, and supervises SCOPE field operations and technicians on research cruises.

• Participates in regular field based oceanographic research cruises, including serving as Chief Scientist.

• Coordinates with SCOPE principal investigators, SCOPE project scientists, and HOT principal investigators on operations management, personnel management, logistics planning, and implementation for science support and field operations.

• Organizes, coordinates, and implements logistics meetings to facilitate personnel communication and coordination between SCOPE and HOT programs, summarizes operation outcomes, and plans future scientific field logistics.

• Performs chemical and microbiological analyses using standard protocols and works independently to develop new or improved methods.

• Performs duties listed below for C-MORE Hale Laboratory Manager.

Research Oceanographer / C-MORE Hale Lab Manager. Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

March 2011 – July 2020.

• Manage the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE) laboratories. C-MORE Hale is a state-of-the-art, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum facility that supports comprehensive research on marine microbes, from molecular biology to ecology. Total building floor area: 26,997 ft2 including laboratories, offices, conference center, and mechanical penthouse.

• Oversees laboratory organization and ensures the 60+ personnel including principal investigators, students, post-docs, and technicians follow proper laboratory and safety policies.

• Coordinates, manages, and oversees laboratory health, hazmat, radiation, and safety requirements. 

• Maintains laboratory equipment, chemical, freezer, and instrumentation inventories, and trains new personnel.

• Act as a liaison with collaborators on the U.S. mainland and at foreign universities.

Antarctic Guide / Deck Crew. Bark Europa, The Netherlands

February 2013 – May 2013.

• Sailed as guide and deck crew between Ushuaia, Argentina - Antarctica - South Georgia, Tristan Da Cunha - Cape Town, South Africa for a total of 7,432 nautical miles.

• Conducted lectures on board in Oceanography and topics related to the Southern Ocean, Antarctica, and plankton ecology.

• Performed hands-on educational activities which included plankton tows and wildlife site visits.

• Led and helped coordinate zodiac tours and landings ashore which included hiking excursions, exploring historical sites, and wildlife viewing.

• Responsible for sail handling, sail training, deck operations, and maintenance.

Research Oceanographer. Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

September 2007 – March 2011.

• Provided field and laboratory support for ongoing microbial and oceanographic research projects with C-MORE and HOT.

• Led, planned, and organized experimental research data collection of biogeochemical and microbiological samples while on research cruises.

• Performed chemical and microbiological analyses using standard protocols and worked independently to develop new and/or improved methods.

• Developed and implemented independent research projects related to ongoing programs.

• Coordinated, managed, and oversaw interns and project personnel.

• Maintained laboratories at UH Mānoa and UH Marine Center.

Oceanographic Field Coordinator. Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

December 2001 – August 2005.

• Provided field and laboratory support for ongoing oceanographic research with the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) Program.

• Calibrated, maintained and operated oceanographic field sampling equipment and instrumentation.

• Planned, organized and participated in monthly 5-day oceanographic research cruises.

• Performed routine biogeochemical and microbiological analyses.

• Organized and maintained field laboratory at UH Mānoa and UH Marine Center.

• Trained high school, undergraduate and graduate students on the operation of oceanographic field sampling equipment, routine chemical and microbiological analyses preformed in HOT.

Biologist. International Pacific Halibut Commission, Seattle, WA.

May 2001 – July 2001.

• Obtained biological data from Pacific Halibut aboard research vessels in the Gulf of Alaska.

• Collected detailed and accurate fishing records from commercial fishers.

• Conducted assignments associated with the gathering of biological and statistical data.

Biologist. NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Regional Office, Honolulu, HI.

November 2000 – May 2001.

• Performed as a debriefer for the Hawaii longline observer program, responsible for insuring quality data were collected and recorded accurately from the fishery.

• Assisted in training new observers and debriefers.

• Verified accuracy of protected species data and sample collection.

• Oversaw observer computer data entry and editing routines.

• Performed vessel safety orientations to insure safety standards were met.

Third Mate. Schooner, Spirit of Massachusetts, Boston, MA.

May 2000 – September 2000

• Crewed on sail training trips between New York, NY and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

• Stood as watch officer, responsible for sail handling, navigation, and safety of the ship and its passengers.

• Educated students ages 8-65 in basic seamanship, navigation, and vessel safety procedures.

• Acted as the ship’s safety and navigation officer by inspecting the ship’s emergency and safety equipment, and updating navigational charts with appropriate corrections.

Fisheries Biologist. NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Regional Office, Honolulu, HI.

November 1999 – May 2000.

• Served as an observer aboard commercial pelagic longline fishing vessels targeting swordfish and tuna.

• Collected data on vessel activity, fishing operations, and incidental interactions with protected species such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and sea birds in an independent and self-supervised environment.

• Measured and tallied all fish that were caught and recorded data on fishing effort.

• Recorded measurements and attached satellite transmitters to the carapace of incidentally caught live sea turtles.

• Extracted DNA tissue samples from sea turtles, sharks, and marine mammals.

Lab Assistant/Educator. Marine Station, Southampton College of Long Island University, NY.

September 1995 – August 1999

• Maintained aquaculture lab, aquariums, oceanographic field, and laboratory equipment.

• Served as crew member on board the R/V Shinnecock and the R/V Paumanok.

• Assisted with ocean and bay dredging, trawling, water sampling, gill netting, and beach seining.

• Educated students ages 8-22 on local marine flora and fauna and on the uses of equipment used in marine studies.