2026 American Samoa Mapping + Transit

Gretchen Spencer is a management analyst for NOAA Ocean Exploration, where she works on office-wide initiatives that focus on programmatic and policy issues that cross the spectrum of the office. She was a 2023 John A. Knauss marine policy fellow at the NOAA Research front office, where she supported the NOAA Research chief of staff and the executive leadership team and also worked as an executive secretary for the Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology and the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration and Characterization Council. Gretchen earned a master’s degree in marine science from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, where her thesis focused on the biogeochemical cycles occurring in mangrove ecosystems. While pursuing her master’s degree, she worked as the education and outreach specialist for the Marine Environmental Education Center, educating the public about marine conservation and caring for the two resident sea turtles. Gretchen received her bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of Maine.

Danielle Warren is a member of the NOAA Ocean Exploration Technical Operations Team. She has a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences/marine science and over eight years of sailing experience as a NOAA senior survey technician across NOAA’s fleet of oceanographic and fisheries research vessels. Her main areas of expertise include CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) operations, scientific data collection and management, and seafloor mapping. In her time with NOAA, she sailed seven ships and supported upwards of 30 scientific research missions while also spearheading training initiatives, shipboard metadata updates, and work transition programs to provide better work/life balance and training opportunities to current and future survey technicians. When not at work, Danielle can be found curled up with a good book or one of her craft projects.

Melissa Gonsalves is currently pursuing a professional science master’s degree in cybersecurity at the University of Rhode Island and holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology from Southern New Hampshire University. She has experience in network and systems engineering across multiple industries, with a focus on maintaining secure, reliable infrastructure and communications in operational environments. Her additional professional experience includes serving as a lead information technologist aboard academic research fleet (ARF) vessels and contributing as a member of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Satellite and Network Advisory Group. She has previously sailed on several ARF research vessels and is excited for her first time aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer as a data/telepresence engineer, supporting the transmission and accessibility of scientific data at sea. An environmentalist with a love for the ocean and a passion for travel, she enjoys writing and performing original music and spending time in nature. Melissa currently resides with her family in lovely Charlestown, Rhode Island.

Jessica (Jesse) Gwinn is the internship program coordinator with NOAA Ocean Exploration, where she student engagement through the Explorer-in-Training Program and other internship and fellowship opportunities. She also supports other science and operations initiatives as needed. Jesse holds a bachelor’s degree in bioenvironmental sciences from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in marine sciences from the University of South Alabama, where her graduate research was focused on ecotoxicology of harmful algae toxins. Before coming to NOAA Ocean Exploration, Jesse was a 2023 Sea Grant Knauss fellow supporting Pacific Islands capacity building projects and communications for NOAA’s Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program. Originally from Texas, Jesse currently resides in Washington, D.C. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, crochet, and is the drummer of a local punk cover band.

Brandon Gertz supports NOAA Ocean Exploration’s outreach and education projects, including live ship-to-shore interactions with NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Originally from Washington State, Brandon earned a bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College and a master’s degree in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University. Before joining the NOAA team, Brandon served as Director of Communications for the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI). When not on an expedition, he enjoys working on home aquariums and making progress on his RPG backlog.

Jessie Heise is a data manager with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information through the Northern Gulf Institute at Mississippi State University. Originally from Virginia, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary. Following graduation, she moved to Florida and worked as a fisheries biologist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, leading inshore and offshore surveys monitoring fish populations. She then relocated to North Carolina to work for the Undersea Vehicles Program at University of North Carolina Wilmington as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) pilot and technician for the Mohawk ROV. Jessie recently moved to Mississippi and is looking forward to exploring a different part of the Gulf coast. When not on the water, she enjoys swimming, outdoor activities, cooking, and traveling.

Rachel Simon is a data and video engineer with the University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography’s Inner Space Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from URI. After working several years in broadcasting — operating an early-generation audio-over-IP infrastructure — she pivoted to ocean research. She began as a shoreside engineering watchstander supporting expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Her first at-sea expedition was in 2019, supporting video systems for BBC’s Blue Planet Live aboard Research Vessel Atlantis. Since then, Rachel has worked on nearly 15 different vessels. Rachel’s most recent at-sea experience was aboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus, which took her to Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Palau, Guam, the Solomon Islands, and the atoll of Majuro in the Marshall Islands. Rachel is excited to finally work on the “wet end” of Okeanos Explorer telepresence systems. While not at sea, she is living her best life in exciting downtown Providence, Rhode Island.

Brett Woodworth is a Master’s student at the University of New Hampshire studying Oceanography at the Center for Coastal Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center. Originally from Upstate New York, Brett earned his bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo, where he spent three years in a deep-sea biology lab using NOAA ROV footage to study the swimming kinematics of deep-sea fishes. He pivoted to the hydrographic world when he was an Explorer-in-Training on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer for expedition EX2302, and found a passion for merging biological research and seafloor mapping. His current research compares multibeam echosounder bathymetry and Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry in coral reef environments to examine how each technique captures coral reef structure and relates them to fish abundance patterns. Outside of work, Brett enjoys hiking, mountain biking, playing basketball, and hanging out with friends.

Allie Smith is a recent addition to the Expedition Coordinator team. Last year, she was a NOAA Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the Department of the Interior with the Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coastal Program, working to coordinate high-level ocean policy. Allie earned her doctorate while studying how microorganisms like marine bacteria and phytoplankton interact with the sulfur cycle in the northern Gulf at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the University of South Alabama. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University and enjoys spending time in nature and with family and friends in her spare time.

Alyssa Schultz is an Expedition Coordinator with NOAA Ocean Exploration. She previously contracted with NOAA Coast Survey as a GIS Specialist, where she vetted, processed, and qualified bathymetric data to support navigation safety and marine resource management. She was a 2025 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the NOAA Research Congressional Team, translating ocean, weather, and climate science for Congress and federal partners. Alyssa is completing her PhD at Texas A&M University, with a focus on deep-sea coral geochemistry in the North Pacific. She has participated in several deep-sea expeditions using platforms such as the remotely operated vehicles Jason and Lu’ukai. Prior to graduate school, Alyssa managed an art gallery, where she loved finding creative ways to turn science into engaging, interactive exhibits to help bridge the gap between research and the public. She holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife & fisheries ecology and oceanography from Texas A&M University.

Miles Saunders holds a master’s degree in geospatial intelligence from Penn State and brings more than 15 years of progressive experience leading hydrographic survey operations, geospatial analysis, and subsea data acquisition across government, academic, and private-sector environments. Most recently, Miles served as chief of hydrographic survey for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, where he trained survey technicians in hydrographic principles, data processing, and the interpretation of fluid mud in echograms. Earlier in his career, Miles managed the Fisher Deep-sea Lab at Penn State, and mentored students conducting deep-sea research focused on coral ecosystems impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. When he is not offshore, Miles enjoys spending time with his daughter and exploring the lowcountry around Savannah, Georgia.

Matt Hommeyer is the technical operations manager at the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies, where he supports the Center’s programmatic priorities involving (1) research projects focused on uncrewed systems, emerging applications of hydrography, and data visualization; and (2) experiential instruction and mentoring for graduate students and undergraduate interns in ocean mapping tools and methods, sensor integration, and techniques for the acquisition and processing of high-quality hydrographic data. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from Middlebury College and has spent over 400 days at sea on academic research, deep sea exploration, and commercial survey vessels. His onshore interests include rock climbing, fly fishing, and supporting live music.

Murray McKay is a Graduate Student studying Ocean Mapping at the Center for Coastal Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center. A New Hampshire native, Murray completed his undergraduate degree in Ocean Engineering at the University of New Hampshire where he found a passion for hydrography. Murray’s research focuses on instrumentation design of all kinds: he has worked on wave buoys, weather stations, and even whale tags. His current work investigates processing techniques for CTDs. Murray is also an avid performer both on the stage and off, playing trombone, singing, performing improvisational comedy, and spending time with his friends playing Dungeons and Dragons.