Meet our New Staff at the New England WSC - June 2024
Join us in welcoming our recently hired staff at the New England Water Science Center.
Sean Chessman, Administrative Operations Section Chief, Connecticut Office
Sean is an accomplished professional with a strong background in leadership and organizational management. In 2020, he earned an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University, complementing his B.S. in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Thomas Edison State University. Having served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years, Sean possesses a wealth of experience in various roles, including Compliance Analyst, Human Resources Manager, and Operations Manager. His career has taken him to diverse locations such as Germany, Greenland, Iraq, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as multiple stateside assignments. Sean’s expertise extends to working in multicultural environments, program management, teaching and facilitation, and event planning. With a deep passion for road cycling, mountain biking, snowboarding, DIY projects, and collecting large-scale model trains, he brings a well-rounded perspective to his work. Sean is eager to embark on his next chapter with the USGS, where he looks forward to making a meaningful impact.
Katherine (Kathy) Doiron, Hydrologic Technician, Connecticut Office
Kathy, a proud New Britain, Connecticut native, graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in natural resources, specializing in water and climate. She previously earned an associate degree in environmental engineering from Three Rivers Community College, where she was very involved in campus activities; Kathy served as treasurer for the Three Rivers United Environmentalist Club and represented students in the College Congress. Her passion for the environment extends beyond academics. Kathy performed riffle bioassessments on various streams throughout Southeastern Connecticut with Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) as a volunteer. When she's not working, Kathy enjoys crocheting, baking, and exploring the forest with her beloved dog Rosco.
Alexander Kind, Hydrologic Technician, New Hampshire Office
Alexander was born in Wisconsin and moved often as a child. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard at 17. After returning from a deployment in Afghanistan in 2009, Alexander started Rockvalley Community College in environmental studies. He later finished his degree at University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 2023 with a bachelor’s in forestry: ecological restoration and management with a minor in soil science. He also obtained certificates in basic wetland management and fire ecology. Alexander worked at the National Park Service during the summer of 2022 as a wildland firefighter. He also conducted research as an undergraduate student on epiphytic moss growth in the cloud forests of Hawaii, and he worked on restoration projects to manage invasive species. After graduating, Alexander became a soil technician with the U.S. Forest Service where he worked in Burned Area Emergency Response and at the Gold Beach Ranger District in Siskou National Forest in Oregon. In his spare time, Alexander likes to bake, cycle, kayak, and volunteer for river clean-up events that include managing invasive species and picking up garbage in, and near, rivers.
Ethan Penn, Hydrologic Technician, Connecticut Office
Ethan grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 2023, he received his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and communications from Stonehill College in Massachusetts. During college, he completed independent research and participated in a variety of programs, including studying sustainable agriculture in Perugia, Italy, and researching conservation management strategies for the Catalina Island Fox on Catalina Island. After graduating, he worked on the Boston Harbor Islands and for the Connecticut DEEP. In May 2024, he joined the USGS New England Water Science Center, and he is excited to learn more about water science. In his spare time, Ethan enjoys backpacking, canoeing, and exploring National Parks.