Michael Bradley
Observer Coordinator
League City,TX
Summary
Senior level Observer Coordinator with 10 years of specialized experience within the Southeast Fisheries Observer Program, bringing extensive knowledge of the Gulf of America reef fishery, data collection, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to communicate complex scientific and regulatory information to diverse audiences, including fishermen, managers, and the public. Adept at building trust within the fishing community while promoting sustainable practices and conservation initiatives. Passionate about supporting outreach and education efforts, with a strong commitment to advancing responsible fisheries management through programs like Return ‘Em Right.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
6
6
Certifications
Work History
SEFOP Observer Coordinator
AIS Inc. in Support of NOAA Fisheries
Galveston, Texas
06.2022 - Current
- Interviewed, recruited, trained (protocol and safety via AMSEA MSIT), and deployed fishery observers on commercial fishing vessels selected for observer coverage in the NMFS southeast region including vessels with Commercial Gulf Reef Fish Permits.
- Recruited and comprehensively onboarded five Assistant Observer Coordinators, mentoring them from entry-level hires into fully autonomous operational leaders.
- Conducted comprehensive post-deployment debriefings with observers to validate data sets, ensuring adherence to NMFS protocols and improving overall data quality.
- Partnered with NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) to address regulatory breaches, successfully coordinating the return of non-compliant commercial vessels to full operational standing.
- Collaborated with USCG districts 5, 7 and 8 examiners to ensure safety requirements for selected commercial fishing vessels are met prior to observer deployment.
- Delivered comprehensive quarterly performance reports to federal staff, providing actionable metrics that served as benchmarks for program success and data integrity initiatives.
- Proactively implemented a weekly progress report to submit to current supervisors to ensure strategic alignment with management goals and streamline performance tracking.
SEFOP Logistics Coordinator
AIS Inc. in Support of NOAA Fisheries
Galveston, Texas
12.2019 - 06.2022
- Architected a proprietary travel and expense management workflow that remains the current operational standard for the current provider, ensuring long-term scalability and deployment efficiency.
- Interviewed and trained new hire observer classes in the companies' travel and expense reporting process to ensure efficient travel and accurate travel reporting.
- Managed the mobilization of over 40 observers, executing intricate travel itineraries across a multi-regional territory ranging from Texas to Rhode Island and throughout the Caribbean.
- Facilitated seamless departmental transitions by training 3 replacement coordinators, effectively handing off complex logistic workflows to the coordinator that manages the program department.
- Reviewed and executed timecard approval of observer staff on a biweekly basis.
- Served as Lead PSO, directing field operations for teams up to 5 personnel and authoring comprehensive post-deployment technical reports to verify regulatory compliance.
SEFOP Fisheries Observer II
Riverside Technology in Support of NOAA Fisheries
Galveston, Texas
06.2016 - 12.2019
- Executed rigorous biological sampling protocols for the Shrimp and Reef Fish Observer Program (Galveston), collecting high-quality catch data, biometrics, and discard metrics in strict accordance with NMFS standards.
- Deployed on shrimp and reef fish vessels for a total of 524 sea days in a three and a half year span.
- Maintained professional diplomatic relations with vessel captains and crew during extended deployments in isolated maritime environments, effectively de-escalating conflicts to ensure mission success.
Lead Protected Species Observer
RPS Group- RPS Energy
Houston, Texas
11.2014 - 06.2016
- Served as the primary subject matter expert on BOEM/BSEE regulations, advising seismic crews on 'Notice to Lessees' (NTL) protocols to ensure strict environmental compliance during high-cost exploration activities.
- Managed field operations for teams of up to 5 observers, providing performance oversight and authoring biweekly compliance reports for the project manager to review and submission to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
- Aligned a multi-lingual workforce (12+ nationalities) on critical environmental mitigation measures, bridging language gaps (5+ primary languages) to maintain 100% regulatory compliance during active seismic operations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marine Biology
Texas A&M University At Galveston, B.S Marine Biology
Galveston, TX 01.2011 - 05.2013
Certification
Alaska Marine Safety Instructor Training Certificate
Timeline
Alaska Marine Safety Instructor Training Certificate
04-2023
SEFOP Observer Coordinator
AIS Inc. in Support of NOAA Fisheries
06.2022 - Current
AIS Inc. Protected Species Observer Certificate
11-2020
SEFOP Logistics Coordinator
AIS Inc. in Support of NOAA Fisheries
12.2019 - 06.2022
USACOE 38 Hour Wetland Delineation Certificate
12-2018
Heartsaver CPR First Aid Certificate
07-2018
SEFOP Fisheries Observer II
Riverside Technology in Support of NOAA Fisheries
06.2016 - 12.2019
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
11-2014
Basic Offshore SafeTransportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)ty Induction & Emergency Training (with HUET and EBS)
11-2014
Lead Protected Species Observer
RPS Group- RPS Energy
11.2014 - 06.2016
Bachelor of Science - Marine Biology
Texas A&M University At Galveston, B.S Marine Biology
01.2011 - 05.2013