Marine Protected AreasMPA Federal Advisory Committee Membership
Nominations for New Members: 2019-2022 Term
The nomination period for 11 new committee members was extended to February 15, 2019, due to the government shutdown. The selection process is ongoing. Once the new members are appointed, the date and location for the new MPAFAC’s first meetingwill be announced here and in the Federal Register.
Current Membership: as of May 2019
The MPA Federal Advisory Committee includes representatives from different geographic regions, including the Great Lakes and U.S. territories. Members typically represent a wide variety of ocean and coastal interests including natural and cultural resource management (state and tribal), natural and social sciences, commercial and recreational fishing, ocean industry (oil and gas production, shipping and ports), recreation and tourism, and conservation.
Designated Federal Officer
Dr. Charles Wahle
Senior Scientist
National Marine Protected Area Center
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Monterey, CA 93940
Cell: 831-238-2244
Phone: 831-647-6460
charles.wahle@noaa.gov
Continuing Members (through 2021)
John Anderson (ocean energy) (2017-2021)
Executive Director
Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition
Edison Electric Institute
Washington, DC
janderson@eei.org
John F. Ballotti (recreational fishing) (2017-2021)
Torrance, CA 90501
johnballotti1@gmail.com
Katy Croff Bell Ph.D. (natural science) (2017-2021)
Lead, Open Ocean Initiative, MIT Media Lab
Fellow, National Geographic Society
Narragansett, RI 02882
katycroffbell@gmail.com
Alex F. Brylske, Ph.D. (non-consumptive uses) (2017-2021)
President
Ocean Education International
Cudjoe Key, FL 33042
brylske@me.com
Christopher M. Horton (recreational fishing) (2017-2021)
Fisheries Program Director
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Washington, DC 20003
chris@sportsmenslink.org
Jacque Hostler-Carmesin (tribal/indigenous) (2017-2021)
Chief Executive Officer
Trinidad Rancheria
Trinidad, CA 95570
JHostler@trinidadrancheria.com
William J. McClintock, Ph.D. (social science) (2017-2021)
Marine Science Institute
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150
will@ucsb.edu
Lynn McClure (conservation) (2017-2021)
Senior Director, Midwest
National Parks Conservation Association
Chicago, IL 60603
lmcclure@npca.org
David S. Robinson, R.P.A. (cultural resources) (2017-2021)
President and CEO
David S. Robinson and Associates, Inc.
Jamestown, RI 02835
dsrobinson@uri.edu
Ex Officio Federal Representatives
Department of Commerce
TBD
Assistant Administrator for Oceans and Coasts
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of the Interior
Ex Officio Designee: TBD
Department of Defense/Navy
Designee: John Pierson
Office Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy – Environment
1000 Navy Pentagon, Room A674
Washington, DC 20350-1000
john.c.pierson@navy.mil
Department of Homeland Security
Designee: LCDR Eric Quigley
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Eric.A.Quigley@uscg.mil
Department of State
Designee: Marc Porter
Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Harry S. Truman Building
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20520
kelseyj@state.gov
Environmental Protection Agency
Designee: Dr. Brian Melzian
Oceanographer/Project Officer
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
melzian.brian@epa.gov
U.S. Agency for International Development
Designee: Barbara Best
Coastal Resources and Policy Advisor
Office of Natural Resources Management, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture & Trade
bbest@usaid.gov
National Science Foundation
Designee: Roxanne Nikolaus
Division of Ocean Sciences
4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725
Arlington, VA 22230
rnikolau@nsf.gov
Department of Agriculture
Designee: Rick Swanson
USDA U.S. Forest Service
Watershed, Fish, Wildlife Staff
201 14th Street, SW, Stop 1121
Washington DC 20250-0003
rswanson@fs.fed.us