The Commission

The Commission consists of three members who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that those serving as commissioners be knowledgeable in marine ecology and resource management.

The Commission is assisted in its work by a nine-member Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. Members are appointed by the Chairman of the Commission after consultation with the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences. The Act requires that committee members be knowledgeable in marine ecology and marine mammal affairs.

The Commission also has an Executive Director, who is appointed by the Chairman with the approval of the Commission.

The Commission has staff offices in Bethesda, Maryland. Contact us.

The Commissioners

Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals

Special Advisor on Native Affairs

Vera Metcalf
Alaska Walrus Commission
Nome, Alaska

Marine Mammal Commission Staff

Rebecca Lent, Ph.D.
Executive Director
rlent@mmc.gov

Michael L. Gosliner, Esq.
General Counsel
mgosliner@mmc.gov

Dennis Heinemann, Ph.D.
Director of Science
dheinemann@mmc.gov

Peter O. Thomas, Ph.D.
International and Policy Program Director
pthomas@mmc.gov

David W. Laist
Policy and Program Analyst
dlaist@mmc.gov

Samantha E. Simmons, Ph.D.
Assistant Scientific Program Director
ssimmons@mmc.gov

Victoria R. C. Cornish
Energy Policy Analyst
vcornish@mmc.gov

Vacant
Fisheries Science and Policy Analyst

Tiffini J. Brookens
Permits Officer
tbrookens@mmc.gov

Cathy Jones
Administrative Officer
cjones@mmc.gov

Mark D. Richardson
Special Assistant to the Executive Director
mrichardson@mmc.gov

Vacant
Research Program Officer
rpo@mmc.gov

Darel E. Jordan
Staff Assistant
djordan@mmc.gov

Melissa Herman
Staff Assistant
mherman@mmc.gov

(top)