Sanctuary boss chooses Keys colleague for NOAA award

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Maritime Heritage Coordinator Brenda Altmeier has received the Silver Sherman Award, which recognizes NOAA employees who perform work above their normal requirements to help fulfill NOAA’s mission, achieve a milestone that contributes significantly or critically toward a particular program goal, or demonstrate leadership toward process improvement of a significant magnitude. It is awarded on an ad hoc basis by each member of the NOAA Senior Executive Service once a year. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Director John Armor selected Altmeier from among more than 400 system colleagues and made the award presentation in Key Largo.

“In Brenda’s 30-year career supporting Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, she has been dedicated to promoting inclusivity and diversity in marine archaeology,” said Armor. “She has led many successful projects and has made a lasting difference in many lives.”

Altmeier has been with the sanctuary since 1993, where she has established and nurtured a collaboration with Diving With a Purpose program, an initiative designed to inspire and empower new generations of potential underwater archaeologists, focusing on individuals from underrepresented communities.

“It was a well-deserved recognition for an outstanding member of our team,” said Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Sarah Fangman. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters. The network includes a system of 15 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments.

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