Lisa Symons

Regional Response Coordinator

Lisa Symons coordinates major incident responses in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and contingency planning, emergency response, injury assessment and restoration planning and implementation for the Florida Keys and the Eastern Region of the National Marine Sanctuary System. From July 2016 through September 2018, Lisa served as deputy superintendent of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, after having been the damage assessment and resource protection coordinator for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries since 1998, responsible for system-wide coordination of contingency planning, emergency response, damage assessment, restoration, and enforcement. She oversaw all aspects of the resource injury process from initial assessments through litigation, to implementation of restoration and subsequent monitoring, including oversight of assessment and restoration work for numerous seagrass and coral groundings in the Florida Keys. Symons also worked with the Department of Defense on underwater munitions issues, coordinated hurricane and tsunami preparedness and impact assessments, and oversaw a national risk assessment for potentially polluting wrecks. Lisa began her career with NOAA in 1991, as the NOAA Regional Liaison in Kuwait, helping to identify, assess and respond to environmental impacts from the oil fires and oil spills from the Arabian Gulf War.