Expedition Team

John MIller

John Miller, W-16


Alumni: W-16
Occupation: Senior Natural Resources Specialist, Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Northwest Washington State (Puget Sound Area)

I'm one of several US Navy natural resources specialists/biologists in the Pacific Northwest. I help manage and conserve resources on naval installations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. After my Sea Semester I joined the NOAA Corps and sailed on many NOAA survey and research vessels along both east and west coasts of the lower 48, Alaska, the Arctic, Antarctica, Haiti, Russia, and a few other places. Shortly before retiring I obtained a license as Captain, 1600 tons, any waters, from the Coast Guard (no sail endorsement, unfortunately).

With the Navy, I primarily work on restoration projects on Navy installations, perform environmental risk assessments, develop and implement natural resources management plans, and manage NEPA assessments. Recently, I was loaned to the US Army Corps of Engineers for a six month tour in the Kandahar, Afghanistan region, where I was assigned to a combat mentoring team as an engineer.

The Sea Semester on Westward was a great experience because it coupled science with seamanship, both subjects that I still am interested in. W-16's focus was to study internal waves in the mid-north Atlantic (pretty much in the same area of the Plastics at Sea cruise), and that was of interest to me, too. Cory Cramer was the director at the time, and the offices were in downtown Boston, which was a great place to be during the classroom period. After the Sea Semester I returned to Boston and stayed for two years - lots of fun! All in all, W-16 was a great experience.




funding

Plastics at SEA: North Atlantic Expedition 2010 is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program. Additional funding provided by Sea Education Association and Henry L. and Grace Doherty Foundation. American Chemistry Council provided support for web-based outreach. Crew gear provided by Patagonia. This expedition is in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Woods Hole Sea Grant.