Health & Social Services Planner II

• Jul 2017 - Present

Served as the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Planning Section Chief during the repatriation of United States citizens from Wuhan, China in January 2020. Collaborated with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (Alaska DHS&EM) to ensure that passengers were screened for COVID-19 and could safely transit to the quarantine site in California. Served as the DHSS Technical Specialist, the Medical Plans Review Team Lead in the Critical Infrastructure Branch, the Large Gatherings Task Force Lead, as a member of the Medical Branch Testing Group, and the Planning Lead for the COVID Vaccine Group during the COVID-19 response. Utilized background in public health, emergency response, and federal and state preparedness planning to develop the Alaska COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. The Alaska COVID-19 Vaccination Plan integrated input from the DHSS Immunization Program, the COVID Vaccine Group Leads, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and ensures that 731,007 Alaskans living in an area of 663,300 square miles will receive vaccination. As the DHSS Health & Social Services Planner II, the DHSS liaison for the Statewide Hazardous Material Working Group, a member of the State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Committee, and a member of the FEMA Alaska Response Plan Team performed planning, prevention, and preparedness activities related to health and environmental hazards by developing and writing biological, radiological, chemical, and hazardous materials plans, including working with Alaska DHS&EM to develop and write the State All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Environmental Program Specialist III

• Aug 2015 - Jul 2017

Acted as the Deputy State on Scene Coordinator, liaison between federal, state, and local entities in the Unified Command, and as the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) environmental unit representative during the removal of the Tug Challenger from the Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska. During the $2.5 million project, assessed potential environmental and health impacts from hazardous materials and petroleum products aboard the sunken vessel, reviewed efficacy of booming operations, and worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Coast Guard, Global Diving and Salvage, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and environmental consultants to address asbestos, petroleum, and lead paint removal. Utilized knowledge of state and federal statutes to effectively guide response actions. Collaborated with the United States Coast Guard National Pollution Funds Center (NPFC), the United States Coast Guard Finance/Administration Section Chief of the Unified Command, and the ADEC Budget and Finance Section to recoup funding for ADEC personnel time and equipment costs associated with the Tug Challenger removal. Knowledge of ICS, NPFC, United States Coast Guard, and the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund requirements led to the ADEC recouping over $60,000. As the regional ADEC representative and primary point of contact for the Sitka Sound Geographic Response Strategies (GRS) Working Group, assisted the Sitka Tribe of Alaska Resource Protection Department to address missing subsistence herring spawn zones in the Southeast Subarea Plan; worked with the United State Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization (SEAPRO), and other stakeholders to conduct a spawn site survey and drafted an expansion to the GRS to preserve a cultural and natural treasure for the Sitka Tribe.

Media Relations

• 2013 - Jul 2017

Port Security

• Apr 2015 - Sep 2015

As a Port Security Officer, responsible for daily security and safety operations for the waterfront facility, adjoining waterfront areas, and cruise ships. Effectively enforced federal and international Maritime Transportation Security Act regulations while ensuring the safety and security of over 4,000 passengers and crews. As a Port Security Officer, responsible for daily security and safety operations for the waterfront facility, adjoining waterfront areas, and cruise ships. Effectively enforced federal and international Maritime Transportation Security Act regulations while ensuring the safety and security of over 4,000 passengers and crews.

Contingency Planning and Defense Readiness

• Jun 2011 - Jun 2013

Enhanced Coast Guard defense readiness by developing and improving domestic and international contingency plans with the Department of Defense, interagency partners, international entities, and Coast Guard sub-units.Designed, conducted, and evaluated exercises and drills to test preparedness of homeland security, homeland defense, and civil support missions based on the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and Department of Defense guidelinesAs PACAREA Safety Officer and Base Alameda Safety Representative, responsible for ensuring compliance with Coast Guard and Occupational Safety and Health Administration health, safety, and environmental regulations for base and sub-units.

Waterways Safety Branch Staff

• Oct 2010 - May 2011

Managed safety and security concerns affecting militarily and economically strategic ports from the Oregon California state line to the San Luis Obispo County line by facilitating commercial vessel movement; communicating waterway, environmental, and infrastructure conditions to mariners, interagency partners, and local stakeholders; and through enforcement of Captain of the Port Safety/Security Zones and special local regulations pertaining to sensitive environmental areas. Amended 33 Code of Federal Regulations 165.1183 with input from the Port State Control Branch, Vessel Traffic Service, Enforcement Division, Coast Guard Legal Service Command Legal Assistance Division, local law enforcement, and other local stakeholders. Approval of the revised regulation permanently increased the security zone size for tankers, cruise ships, and High Value Assets (HVAs) while underway on the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay, Delta Ports, Monterey Bay, and Humboldt Bay, California; improved the Coast Guard’s maritime law enforcement capacity to effectively protect HVAs during transit within the port.Mitigated potentially negative environmental and public health impacts of multiuse waterways by enforcing the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.], the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1508. During the Crescent City, California tsunami response, acted as Planning Section Chief, Situation Unit, Operations Unit, Finance Officer, Vessel Liaison, and Public Information Officer.

Vessel Safety Examination Branch Chief BP Spill

• Jul 2010 - Sep 2010

As the Vessel Safety Examination Branch Chief for the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit, Chartered Response Vessels, and Floatels (floating hotels) during the British Petroleum spill in the Gulf of Mexico, supervised a team of 17 Coast Guard personnel and United States Public Health Officers and directed safety inspections for over 1,500 Chartered Response Vessels and Floatels which housed over 5,000 responders. Authored, edited, and reviewed safety and public health policies which were used by 47,000 federal, state, and local responders; developed procedures and policies for streamlining inspection of Floatels and Chartered Response Vessels.

Inspections Division, Port State Control

• Jan 2009 - Jul 2010

Examined deep-draft foreign flag vessels including bulk freight vessels, container ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers, and cruise ships to verify compliance with International Maritime Organization and United States treaties, laws, and regulations pertaining to public health, public safety, safe transportation of hazardous materials and petroleum by vessel, protection of crew members, and prevention of marine pollution.

Port Safety and Security Division Staff

• May 2004 - Aug 2008

Supervised the inspection of vessel cargoes and intermodal cargo containers for compliance with the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law (FHMTL), 49 U.S.C. 5101-5127, the International Safe Container Act of 1977 (ISCA), 46 U.S.C. 80501-80509, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, and associated public health requirements. Directed the inspection of waterfront facilities dealing in hazardous materials and petroleum products to ensure compliance with 33 Code of Federal Regulations Subchapter H Maritime Security, Subchapter L Waterfront Facilities, Subchapter O Pollution, and 29 Code of Federal Regulations. Enforced environmental, public health, and public safety requirements. Inspected deep-draft foreign flag vessels and domestic vessels to verify compliance with International Maritime Organization and United States treaties, laws, and regulations pertaining to public health, public safety, safe transportation of hazardous materials and petroleum by vessel, protection of crewmembers, and prevention of marine pollution.Excellent marine safety technical knowledge including expertise in facility response plans, facility operations plan, and facility security plans; subject matter expert for the maritime community. Provided training and guidance to improve understanding and compliance with ever-evolving facility safety and security requirements to the maritime industry, local stakeholders, other governmental agencies, and Coast Guard colleagues.

Master at Arms of the Coast Guard barracks

• Nov 2002 - Apr 2004

As the Master at Arms of the Coast Guard barracks, responsible for daily operations and administration of barracks including enforcement of barrack regulations, maintenance of the barracks and barrack grounds, procurement of material goods, and supervision of 5 work force personnel.