Kelly Cates, Ph.D.

Kelly Cates is the Alaska Region NEPA coordinator. In addition to NEPA responsibilities (i.e. guidance, implementation, quality assurance, and analytical review), Kelly works on ESA section 7 issues, fisheries management and policy, and other projects in support of the Sustainable Fisheries Division. Kelly earned a Ph.D. in Fisheries from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks in 2021 and received a bachelor of science degree from Western Washington University in 2012. Kelly also participated in the NOAA Knauss Fellowship program in 2017 where she worked in NOAA’s HQ Office of Legislative Affairs. In between degrees Kelly worked as a marine mammal observer in Australia.