The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region has appointed Heather Parker as chief of its Environmental Studies Program.
Parker began her career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where she served as both a deck and science officer on NOAA vessels, worked as a diver for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and later as a physical oceanographer managing data for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Parker also worked in NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration and later as NOAA’s Scientific Support Coordinator for the California, Nevada, and Arizona region focusing on spill response. She coordinated on regional oil spill preparedness with the U.S. Coast Guard’s 13th District and recently served as the on-scene coordinator and regional oil spill program manager for Navy Region Northwest.
She has bachelor’s degree in science, ecology, and evolutionary biology from the University of Connecticut, and a master’s in physical oceanography/fisheries oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.
“I am thrilled to join BOEM and to contribute to the Environmental Studies Program,” Parker said. “Alaska’s environment is incredibly diverse and challenging, and I look forward to advancing science and partnerships that support responsible resource management on the OCS.”
BOEM is one of Alaska’s largest funders of marine research, with 20-to-30 studies ongoing at any given time in the Alaska Region. Since BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program was established in 1973, more than $450 million has been invested to better understand and protect Alaska’s important marine ecosystems.
“We’re excited to have Heather Parker stepping into this role,” said Alaska OCS Region Director Givey Kochanowski. “Heather brings a wealth of hands-on experience and a real passion for Alaska’s marine environment. Her background in science, oil spill response, and working with various agencies and stakeholders will help us continue to learn about and protect Alaska’s unique offshore areas.”
