April 10, 2023 — Jennifer Quan will take the lead as regional administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s West Coast fisheries program April 23, according to an agency announcement.
Quan, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest region, began her NOAA career as a supervisory fish biologist leading the South Puget Sound Branch of the Oregon/Washington Coastal Office. She is now an advisor to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Quan is succeeding regional director Barry Thom, who left the National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast administrator position in 2020 to lead the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Scott Rumsey, who has been acting regional director since Thom’s departure, will resume his role as deputy regional administrator, according to the NOAA statement.
“I feel fortunate and excited to have Jennifer join the NOAA Fisheries leadership team at this time,” said Janet Coit, the assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “She is a capable, experienced leader who has demonstrated throughout her career that she understands fisheries and complex environmental issues and knows how to work with others to address the many natural resource challenges on the West Coast.”