Dr. Jason Spires serves as a Research Ecologist at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, where he oversees the operations of the facility’s meteorological and oceanographic monitoring station. His current research program focuses on ecological assessments of coastal and estuarine habitats to inform environmental management. Additionally, he acts as the Unit Diving Supervisor for NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) divers based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Dr. Spires earned his Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Marine Estuarine Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, conducting his graduate research at the Horn Point Laboratory.
He is also a licensed maritime professional, holding a 100-ton U.S. Coast Guard Master Captain’s License to support field research operations.
His research background includes evaluating the ecological impacts of land-use practices on aquatic ecosystem health, specifically focusing on water quality parameters, benthic habitat structure, and fish community dynamics.
Prior to joining NCCOS in 2015, Spires served as an educator and captain for a regional non-profit organization.