Chris Oliver

As the agency’s Assistant Administrator, Mr. Oliver oversees the management and conservation of recreational and commercial fisheries including aspects of marine aquaculture, the preservation and maintenance of safe sources of seafood, and the protection of marine mammals, marine protected species, and coastal fisheries habitat within the U.S. exclusive economic zone. He also manages an agency with a strong presence nationally with 3,200 people in five regional offices, six science centers, and 24 labs and fish stations in 15 states and U.S. territories.

Mr. Oliver most recently served as Executive Director of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, a position he held for 16 years. He had been with the Council since 1990, also serving as a fisheries biologist and then deputy director. Originally from Rockport, Texas, Mr. Oliver was also a Research Associate at Texas A&M University from 1987 to 1990, working with federal and state agencies on management issues associated with Gulf of Mexico shrimp fisheries, giving him both personal and professional experience with fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master's degree in Fisheries Science, both from Texas A&M. Mr. Oliver enjoys many outdoor activities and is an avid hunter and fisherman.