“I would love the ability to coordinate with, or work in, another position like that again – whether it’s volunteering for wildlife rescues or getting back into coastal and marine conservation efforts.” Working as a volunteer, she would hop on an ATV before the sun rose and search for turtle nests. Paris’ career with the FDEP spanned an impressive 14 years, but she still found time to follow her passion for wildlife conservation. She didn’t know it at the time, but earning her bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and minor in Environmental Science would lead her to a full-time position with FDEP, and eventually pave the way toward a career in emergency response. She accepted a part-time position with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as a sophomore. After graduating high school, she attended the University of West Florida to pursue her interest in marine biology and environmental science. She was raised in a two-stoplight, rural town where her first love for the ocean began after watching Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and Jacques Cousteau’s documentaries. Credits: Jennifer Paris / NASAĭespite her success in emergency response, Paris originally dreamed of being a marine biologist.
In addition to that role, she was also a part of the State’s Environmental Response Team trained to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) events. NASA Headquarters Disasters Coordinator, Jennifer Paris, pictured while serving as the emergency response manager for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “However, I’ve never let challenges divert me from the ability to be impactful, and it has never affected my drive.” “I’ve always looked younger than I am, and mostly been in a male-dominated type of career,” she explained. But one thing is for certain: Paris learned to persevere in situations where others may falter. The adrenaline of being so high up, combined with the pressure of being the youngest person and first woman to serve in her role, left her memory a bit hazy. Over a decade later, she can’t quite recall what she saw out of the helicopter window.
As part of “Team Florida,” she, along with a NOAA scientist, a National Parks Ranger, and a representative from the responsible party, made an initial operational game plan for how field teams would categorize and track oil as it washed ashore.Īnd this was only her fourth month as an emergency response manager. It was up to Paris to represent the State of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection. As the aircraft went up, she watched below as one of the largest oceanic oil spills in history made its way through the Gulf of Mexico, leaving 4 million gallons of crude oil behind. Jennifer Paris grabbed her colleague and climbed into the helicopter. Jennifer Paris, NASA Headquarters Disasters Coordinator.