Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Awards
Publications
Timeline
Generic

Dawn Golden

Mililani Town,HI

Summary

Marine policy expert and accomplished environmental program leader with over 20 years of experience in federal marine resource management. Proven success leading interdisciplinary teams, managing multimillion-dollar programs, and advancing the conservation of protected marine species through application of the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. Skilled in regulatory compliance, fisheries management, contract oversight, and stakeholder engagement. Adept at partnering with domestic and international entities to deliver science-based conservation solutions. Seeking to transition expertise to a mission-driven private sector environmental consultancy.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience

Work History

Assistant Regional Administrator

NOAA Fisheries Service
08.2022 - Current
  • Lead regional implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), including species listings, critical habitat designations, ESA consultations, recovery planning, and marine mammal conservation efforts.
  • Manage a multi million dollar budget, oversee hiring, performance evaluations, training, and development for 22 staff.
  • Direct strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and internal operations to increase team efficiency, collaboration, and program effectiveness.
  • Resolve complex regulatory and resource management issues through cross-agency coordination and stakeholder collaboration.
  • Drive process improvements, cost-saving measures, and personnel development to meet evolving organizational priorities.

Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Administrator

NOAA Fisheries Service
10.2019 - 08.2022
    • Led operations and $30M contract for Pacific Islands Observer Program, ensuring federal compliance and observer coverage for Hawaii and American Samoa longline fisheries.
    • Supervised 8 staff and 60+ contractors; managed hiring, training, and performance.
    • Ensured data quality and timely reporting to meet U.S. and international obligations (WCPFC, IATTC).
    • Served as COR Level II; oversaw contractor performance, budgets, and deliverables.
    • Represented NOAA in regional, national, and international fishery policy forums.

Endangered Species Biologist ZP-III Series 0482

NOAA Fisheries Service
10.2010 - 10.2019
  • Led formal and informal ESA Section 7 consultations analyzing impacts of federal fisheries and actions on listed marine species across the Pacific Islands Region.
  • Directed multi-disciplinary teams to produce high-profile biological opinions under ESA, MMPA, NEPA, and Magnuson-Stevens Act mandates.
  • Developed mitigation measures balancing species protection and fishery continuity, notably preventing early closures in Hawaii longline fisheries.
  • Served as Deputy ESA Section 7 Coordinator; collaborated across NOAA divisions and international partners to develop U.S. sea turtle conservation policy adopted by WCPFC in 2018.
  • Represented NOAA at international workshops (e.g., WCPFC ABNJ bycatch meeting in New Caledonia).
  • Provided technical and policy guidance to NOAA staff, federal agencies, and regional stakeholders on ESA and MMPA compliance.
  • Recognized by the U.S. Army for exceptional consultation support under tight timelines.
  • Organized annual division retreat and contributed to national bycatch working group and interagency coordination efforts.

Fisheries Biologist ZP-II

NOAA Fisheries Service
06.2002 - 09.2010
  • Led observer training for Hawaii and American Samoa longline fisheries; designed curriculum on species ID, safety, regulations, and data collection protocols.
  • Developed national safety standards and policies as a member of the National Observer Program Safety Committee.
  • Created and delivered protected species training for international observer programs (SPC, FFA), conducting workshops across Micronesia, Samoa, PNG, RMI, and Kiribati.
  • Built policies and procedures for observer safety and enforcement in coordination with NOAA OLE and U.S. Coast Guard, including startup of American Samoa program.
  • Enhanced Vietnam's observer training capacity in partnership with WWF and Vietnamese fisheries reps.
  • Ensured high-quality data for fisheries management by supervising debriefings, reviewing protocols, and certifying observer performance.
  • Conducted at-sea safety inspections and coordinated vessel drills to comply with federal regulations.

Intern

Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
06.2008 - 09.2008
  • Supported development of audit procedures to authorize national programs under the WCPFC Regional Observer Programme.
  • Assisted with observer program audits in Palau and the Marshall Islands.
  • Analyzed data collection consistency across member nation observer manuals.
  • Helped coordinate and deliver observer training with WCPFC, SPC, and FFA staff in Palau and the Marshall Islands.

Fishery Observer Contractor

NOAA Fisheries Service
08.1998 - 06.2002
  • Collected catch, bycatch, protected species interaction, and biological data aboard vessels in nine commercial fisheries, supporting sustainable fishery management and regulatory compliance.
  • Worked in the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Cook Inlet, West Coast, and Hawaii longline fisheries, including high-risk conditions aboard longline, trawl, gillnet, and pot gear vessels.
  • Performed at-sea necropsies on marine mammals and ensured data quality under adverse and remote field conditions.
  • Trained extensively in species ID, sampling protocols, fisheries regulations, and at-sea safety.

Education

Masters - Marine Affairs

University of Washington
06.2009

Skills

  • Cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Financial planning
  • Talent management
  • Service excellence
  • Clear communication skills
  • Strategic goal setting

Awards

  • 2024 Federal Executive Board Excellence in Federal Government Award – Leadership
  • 2020 NOAA Fisheries Employee of the Year – Supervisor Category
  • 2016 NOAA Fisheries Employee of the Year – Program Management/Scientific/Technical Band III
  • 2004 NOAA Fisheries Employee of the Year – Management/Scientific/Technical Band II
  • 2018 DOC Gold Medal Team Award – Regulatory efficiency for MMPA/ESA permitting
  • 2005 DOC Bronze Medal Team Award – Gulf Region service post-Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
  • 2014 NOAA General Counsel Individual Award – ESA/MMPA permit analyses for Hawaii longline fishery
  • 2013 NOAA General Counsel Team Award – Biological Opinion and litigation support for protected species
  • 2023 Special Act Award – Finalizing BiOps for multiple Pacific fisheries
  • 2020 Special Act Award – Ensuring observer coverage during COVID-19
  • 2019 Special Act Award – Completion of shallow-set longline BiOp advancing conservation and access
  • 2018 Special Act Award – Acting team leader, Intergovernmental Cooperation & Conservation Branch
  • 2016 Special Act Award – Special Assistant to Assistant Regional Administrator, PRD
  • 2017 Selected – Pacific Leadership Academy Training
  • 2007–2008 Selected – NOAA Fisheries Advanced Studies Program

Publications

  • Boal, J.G. & Golden, D.K. (1999). Distance chemoreception in the common cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 235(2), 307–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(98)00187-7
  • NMFS (2012). Biological Opinion: Hawaii Shallow-set Longline Swordfish Fishery – Amendment 18. 162 pp.
  • NMFS (2014). ESA Section 7 BiOp: Hawaii Deep-set Pelagic Longline Fishery. Pacific Islands Region. 216 pp.
  • NMFS (2015). ESA Section 7 BiOp: American Samoa Longline Fishery. Pacific Islands Region.
  • NMFS. MMPA Section 101(a)(5)(E) Negligible Impact Determination: Central North Pacific Humpback Whale, Sperm Whale, and Main Hawaiian Islands Insular False Killer Whale.
  • NMFS (2017). ESA BiOp: U.S. Army USAKA Launch Impacts on Listed Species.
  • NMFS (2019). Biological Opinion: Hawaii Shallow-set Longline Swordfish Fishery – Continued Operation.

Timeline

Assistant Regional Administrator

NOAA Fisheries Service
08.2022 - Current

Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Administrator

NOAA Fisheries Service
10.2019 - 08.2022

Endangered Species Biologist ZP-III Series 0482

NOAA Fisheries Service
10.2010 - 10.2019

Intern

Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
06.2008 - 09.2008

Fisheries Biologist ZP-II

NOAA Fisheries Service
06.2002 - 09.2010

Fishery Observer Contractor

NOAA Fisheries Service
08.1998 - 06.2002

Masters - Marine Affairs

University of Washington

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