Upcoming Webinar

David has gained hands-on experience coordinating and implementing post-typhoon/disaster marine debris response throughout his time in the Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands Government and MINA, including rapid shoreline assessments and removal efforts. His work contributed to restoring coastal habitats, improving community safety, and informing long-term resilience strategies.

Kitty was the Project Lead on the U.S. Virgin Islands Hurricane Recovery Marine Debris Grant after the 2017 hurricane season, which brought $4.2M to the territory to remove hurricane debris. Projects ranged from small subawards with community non-profits to conduct site specific cleanups, to the removal of 790,920 pounds of debris from one site on St. Thomas.

During Hurricane Maria, Dr. Jiménez served as the Trustee representative for Emergency Support Function 10, which was responsible for removing and disposing of vessels impacted during the hurricane. She also led the implementation of a supplemental project that removed additional hurricane debris around the island, targeting not only vessels, but all types of large debris remaining from the hurricane. Currently, she is working on the removal and prevention of abandoned and derelict vessels to minimize impacts during hurricanes.

Dr. McGee is the Marine Debris Program Administrator for FWC, based in the Division of Law Enforcement. She has worked with Florida's natural resources for almost two decades and serves on the Florida Debris Task Force as a Resource Advisor and Trainer for derelict vessel and debris removals. She also serves as a governmental liaison post-hurricane, leading an environmental unit comprised of both hurricane-impacted and emergency management governmental partners. Jennifer also assists with monitoring removal coverage and environmental impacts, planning for long-term natural resource restoration and recovery, and has served as the Project Lead or Co-Lead for several large-scale hurricane debris removal efforts.