Duane E. De Freese, Ph.D.
Duane E. De Freese, Ph.D.
Executive
Director
Executive
Director
IRL
IRL Council
Council
Indian
Lagoon
National
Estuary
Program
Indian River
River
Lagoon
National
Estuary
Program
If you deep
look enough
deep enough
some
of Florida’s
most innovative
innovative conservation
initiatives,
you you
will will
If you look
into into
some
of Florida’s
most
conservation
initiatives,
eventually
run across
Duane’s name.
name.
eventually
run across
Duane’s
For 3 over
3 decades,
Dr. Freese
De Freese
been
a champion of
of science-based,
science-based, common-sense
ocean
For over
decades,
Dr. De
has has
been
a champion
common-sense
ocean and
and
coastal
conservation
in
Florida.
He
is
recognized
for
his
ability
to
“see
and
communicate
the
big
coastal conservation in Florida. He is recognized for his ability to “see and communicate the big
picture” by integrating environmental, economic and social considerations into a vision for Florida’s
picture”
by integrating environmental, economic and social considerations into a vision for
future.
Florida’s future.
Duane holds a B.S. degree in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island (1976) and M.S. (1982) &
Duane Ph.D.
holds (1988)
a B.S. degrees
degree in in Marine
Zoology
from
the
University
Island
(1976)
and course
M.S. (1982) &
Biology
from
Florida
Institute of
of Rhode
Technology.
He holds
special
Ph.D. (1988)
degrees
in Marine
Biology Graduate
from Florida
of Technology.
holds Duke
special
certificates
from the
Roy E. Crummer
School Institute
of Business,
Rollins College He
(2002);
course University,
certificates
from
the
Roy
E.
Crummer
Graduate
School
of
Business,
Rollins
College
School of the Environment (Conservation Land Acquisition, 1991); and Marine Biological (2002);
Duke University,
of the
Environment
(Conservation Land Acquisition, 1991); and Marine
Laboratory at School
Woods Hole,
MA.
(Mariculture, 1983).
Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, MA. (Mariculture, 1983).
Duane was instrumental in helping to secure U.S. EPA National Estuary Program designation for the
Duane Indian
was instrumental
in helping
to In secure
U.S. EPA
Program
designation
for the
River Lagoon (IRL)
in 1990.
September
2015, National
his career Estuary
came full
circle when
he was
named
Executive
Director
of
a
new
special
district
of
the
state
of
Florida
(IRL
Council)
that
will
serve
Indian River Lagoon (IRL) in 1990. In September 2015, his career came full circle when he was
the host of Director
a reorganized
River Lagoon
National
In this
role, Duane
named as Executive
of a Indian
new special
district
of the Estuary
state Program.
of Florida
(IRL new
Council)
that will
works
state and local Indian
government
research
organizations,
serve as
the with
host federal,
of a reorganized
River agencies,
Lagoon scientific
National
Estuary
Program. academic
In this new role,
institutions,
elected
officials,
industry
and
the
general
public.
The
goal
is
to
develop
and
implement
Duane works with federal, state and local government agencies, scientific research organizations,
a science-based
restoration
for industry
one of the and
nation’s
threatened
estuarine
ecosystems.
academic
institutions,
elected strategy
officials,
the most
general
public.
The goal
is to develop and
implement a science-based restoration strategy for one of the nation’s most threatened estuarine
Previous career experience includes: First program director for the acclaimed Brevard County
ecosystems.
Environmentally Endangered Lands Program (1991-1998); Vice President of Florida Research for
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (1998-2008); Advisor to the Dean of the College of Sciences at
Previous career experience includes: First program director for the acclaimed Brevard County
University of Central Florida to create a long-range vision for a multi-disciplinary center for coastal
Environmentally
Lands Program
(1991-1998);
Vice President
of Florida
for
research and Endangered
technology development
in conjunction
with an expanded
UCF coastal
& sea Research
turtle
Hubbs-SeaWorld
Research
Institute
Advisor
to the
Dean
of the and
College
Sciences at
research center
located within
the (1998-2008);
Archie Carr National
Wildlife
Refuge
(2009);
Senior of Vice
University
of
Central
Florida
to
create
a
long-range
vision
for
a
multi-disciplinary
center
for coastal
President of Science & Business Development at AquaFiber Technologies Corporation (2009-2015).
research
technology
development
in conjunction
with an and
expanded
& sea
As and
an AquaFiber
senior
executive, Duane
provided leadership
oversight UCF
for all coastal
scientific
and turtle
research
center located
within the
Archie with
Carr the
National
Refuge remediation
(2009); and
Senior Vice
intellectual
property activities
associated
company Wildlife
and its nutrient
technology
President
of Science
Business Development at AquaFiber Technologies Corporation (2009-2015).
development
and & applications.
As an AquaFiber senior executive, Duane provided leadership and oversight for all scientific and
Duane property
currently serves
on the associated
Board of Directors
for the
Florida Ocean
Alliance
(Vice-Chair).
He also
intellectual
activities
with the
company
and its
nutrient
remediation
is serving
his second term
a Governor-appointed board member of CareerSource Florida Inc.
technology
development
and as applications.
has been
honored
with Board
numerous
awards of recognition
during Ocean
his career.
Duane Duane
currently
serves
on the
of Directors
for the Florida
Alliance (Vice-Chair). He also
is serving his second term as a Governor-appointed board member of CareerSource Florida Inc.
Eastern Florida State College
Duane has been honored with numerous awards of recognition during his career.
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