McFee is the lead for the Coastal Marine Mammal Assessment Program in the Key Species and Bioinformatics Branch at NCCOS Charleston. The program utilizes marine mammals as indicators of coastal ocean health and change largely through contaminant studies and animal surveillance.
McFee started his career with NMFS as a fishery biologist in 1987 and moved on to become a seal trainer at the New England Aquarium in 1988. In 1991 he accepted a position as an environmental quality manager with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Control before accepting a position in 1993 with the NMFS’ Marine Forensics Program in Charleston leading marine mammal response to strandings. He continued as the Program Lead for the current marine mammal program in 1999 when the Charleston office was switched to the National Ocean Service.
McFee received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science from Jacksonville University, Florida, in 1987, and his Master of Science in Biology from Northeastern University, Boston, MA, in 1990.