Sierra Franks, M.S.

Sierra is a Branch Chief of one of the three branches in NOAA Fisheries’ Protected Resources Division in Alaska as well as the Regions Section 7 Endangered Species Act Coordinator. Born and raised in Northwest Missouri, she left home for a more tropical environment by pursuing her undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Zoology with a minor in Marine Biology. She went on to get a Master’s Degree from Oregon State University in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Fisheries Management. Sierra has been a Federal employee since 2007 working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in California, Oregon, Washington State and Alaska, as well as our NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region in Sacramento (2011-2015). Her background and field work are mostly centered on Pacific salmon, but within the last decade she has also had the honor to work on other high profile wildlife, fish, and marine mammal species (i.e. Northern spotted owl, bull trout, gray wolf, polar bear). Her interest really lies in the science and policy intersection. She is a strong proponent for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She is an avid backpacker and is most happy on multi-day grand adventures out in the wild. She also enjoys fishing, hiking, rock climbing, camping, rafting, and just about anything else that gets and keeps her outside.