Hilmer prepares and analyzes multi-disciplinary oceanographic regional ecosystem research plans in coordination with budget tracking and outreach. He also serves as a Program Manager in CRP and has managed programs in CRP’s coral reef ecosystems portfolio, as well as our work in the Northern Gulf.
Hilmer has always dreamed of working in the marine science field, of which his mother attributed to watching too much Jacques Cousteau on PBS in his youth. Following his graduation from RSMAS, he worked at the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (now Consortium for Ocean Leadership) before starting his career at NCCOS in 2001. As a Program Analyst Hilmer has worked on developing numerous research plans and outreach activities in coordination with budget formulation and responses to inquiries from NOAA leadership and Congress. He also has been directly involved in numerous marine ecosystem research projects including conducting site visits, research cruises. and integrated ecosystem assessments. Such visits have included Grey’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, South Florida, Hawaii, Navasa, and Micronesia as a NOAA certified SCUBA Diver, as well as his current work researching hypoxia in the Northern Gulf.
Hilmer graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, with a Bachelor degree in Marine Biology in 1994, and then received his Masters in Marine Affairs and Policy degree from the Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) University of Miami in 2000.