Hi, I’m
Christopher Hayes, Ph.D.
Silver Spring,United States
Summary
Strategic leader with deep experience in fisheries science and program management, driving organizational performance through process optimization, executive engagement, and legislative strategy. Demonstrated success in advancing stakeholder collaboration, resolving complex operational challenges, and implementing systemic improvements that produce lasting impact.
Overview
18
years of professional experience
Work History
NOAA Finance Office, Program Management DivisionSilver Spring, Maryland
Program Manager
10.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Led cross-agency teams to achieve program goals aligned with organizational priorities.
- Facilitated enterprise financial system roll-out, resolving stakeholder conflicts to enhance collaboration.
- Designed and implemented strategic customer experience assessments, identifying workflow inefficiencies to streamline processes.
NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for OperationsSilver Spring, Maryland
Senior Advisor
01.2025 - 07.2025
Job overview
- Advised Acting NOAA Administrator on high-level talking points and agency communications, enhancing workforce stability during organizational transition.
- Guided policy execution across five corporate offices, ensuring operational continuity and legal compliance.
NOAA Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
Deputy Director and Legislative Specialist
09.2017 - 10.2023
Job overview
- Orchestrated bipartisan unanimous consent Senate confirmation of NOAA Administrator and prepared three presidential appointees for successful hearings, strengthening agency leadership.
- Managed legislative strategy by aligning NOAA and Congressional priorities, leading 20 congressional hearings, and managing over 250 inquiries for agency transparency.
- Advised executive leadership on strategic operations, securing critical funding for tribal liaison roles and improving legislative processes for enhanced agency effectiveness.
- Supervised cross-functional teams to maintain organizational performance during global pandemic disruptions.
- Established legislative fellowship within Educational Partnership Program, enhancing opportunities for students from Minority Serving Institutions.
NOAA Deputy Administrator and Assistant SecretarySilver Spring, MD
Chief of Staff
02.2023 - 08.2023
Job overview
- Pioneered management systems at Assistant Secretary level, improving coordination and workflow across departments.
- Received recognition for system efficacy, facilitating widespread adoption throughout the organization.
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science CenterWoods Hole, Massachusetts
Social Scientist
09.2022 - 02.2023
Job overview
- Led research initiatives in Chesapeake Bay and New England fisheries, contributing to evidence-based conservation strategies.
- Completed doctoral degree through original research, resulting in peer-reviewed publication and successful dissertation defense.
NOAA National Ocean Service, Policy DivisionSilver Spring, MD
Chief
05.2022 - 09.2022
Job overview
- Directed office fiscal and human resources to improve operational efficiency and align team objectives.
- Initiated strategic reorganization to enhance office functionality and clarify roles and responsibilities.
Department of CommerceWashington, DC
Director of Legislative Affairs
12.2021 - 05.2022
Job overview
- Directed policy and planning for NOAA, NIST, PTO, improving strategic support for Commerce Secretary during critical hearings.
- Streamlined agency responses through briefings and congressional outreach, enhancing legislative relationships and collaboration.
- Identified and addressed risks during congressional engagements to protect agency interests. during sensitive congressional engagements, safeguarding agency interests.
- Advised on budget execution for key programs, ensuring resource allocation aligned with Department priorities and strategic objectives.
NOAA Sea GrantSilver Spring, Maryland
Strategic Planning and Evaluation Director, and Program Officer
07.2010 - 09.2017
Job overview
- Developed national strategic planning and evaluation processes, strengthening stakeholder engagement and enhancing performance measurement.
- Standardized program officer operations by implementing online dashboard and budget/finance manual, improving operational clarity.
- Managed $12 million federal budget for 10 Sea Grant programs, optimizing investments to maximize impact across research, education, outreach.
- Created national performance measure database with IT team, improving data collection capabilities from external partners.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program
Fisheries Data Manager
01.2009 - 07.2010
Job overview
- Developed and maintained interstate fisheries database to enhance collaboration among intergovernmental advisory panel members.
NOAA Fisheries Partnerships and Communications
Sea Grant Fellow
02.2008 - 01.2009
Job overview
- Produced outreach videos for Smithsonian Ocean Hall to enhance public engagement and education on marine conservation.
Education
University of Maryland Center For Environmental ScienceSolomons Island, MD, USA
Ph.D. from Fisheries Science
05.2023
University Overview
- Inter-Disciplinary Decision Support, Economics, Game Theory, Environmental Anthropology
- Impact: New Maryland law for oyster co-management
- GPA: 3.7 of a maximum 4.0
Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA, USA
Master of Science from Fisheries Science
12.2007
University Overview
- Fisheries Management, Stream Habitat Management, Conservation Genetics
- Impact: IUCN Red List of three hammerhead shark species
- GPA: 3.9 of a maximum 4.0
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA, USA
Bachelor of Science from Ecology
12.2004
University Overview
- International Honors Program: Global Ecology
- GPA: 3.4 of a maximum 4.0
Skills
- Project & change management
- Legislative strategy
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Data-driven decision making
- Fisheries policy development
- Strategic planning
- Program assessment
- Innovation
Publications
- Expanding the Fisheries Management Tackle Box: A Multiple-Model Approach to Support Better Decisions, Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland, 2023, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=k5SIGQUAAAAJ&hl=en
- Comparing multi-criteria decision analysis to group negotiations in fisheries co-management, Hayes, C., Wainger, L., Marine Policy, 138, 104997, 2022
- Stock assessment of scalloped hammerheads in the western North Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, Hayes, C. G., Jiao, Y., Cortés, E., North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 29, 5, 1406-1417, 2009
- Hierarchical Bayesian approach for population dynamics modelling of fish complexes without species-specific data, Jiao, Y., Hayes, C., Cortés, E., ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66, 2, 367-377, 2009
- Investigating single and multiple species fisheries management: stock status evaluation of hammerhead (Sphyrna spp.) sharks in the western North Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, Masters Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2007
Awards
- NOAA Administrator’s Award, For exceptional skill and dedication in program and grant execution and oversight, resulting in $24 million to support 300+ resilience projects.
- NOAA Research Employee of the Year, For superior leadership in the management and development of Sea Grant’s Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Reporting (PIER) System.
- NOAA Employee of the Month for exceptional leadership spearheading a multi-office team to successfully roll out Gemini to over 20,000 staff.
Timeline
Senior Advisor
NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations
01.2025 - 07.2025
Program Manager
NOAA Finance Office, Program Management Division
10.2023 - Current
Chief of Staff
NOAA Deputy Administrator and Assistant Secretary
02.2023 - 08.2023
Social Scientist
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
09.2022 - 02.2023
Chief
NOAA National Ocean Service, Policy Division
05.2022 - 09.2022
Director of Legislative Affairs
Department of Commerce
12.2021 - 05.2022
Deputy Director and Legislative Specialist
NOAA Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
09.2017 - 10.2023
Strategic Planning and Evaluation Director, and Program Officer
NOAA Sea Grant
07.2010 - 09.2017
Fisheries Data Manager
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program
01.2009 - 07.2010
Sea Grant Fellow
NOAA Fisheries Partnerships and Communications
02.2008 - 01.2009
University of Maryland Center For Environmental Science
Ph.D. from Fisheries Science
Virginia Tech
Master of Science from Fisheries Science
University of Georgia
Bachelor of Science from Ecology