Jaimie Gillespie

Jaimie Gillespie has been an acting Emergency Management Specialist in the USGS Office of Emergency Management (OEM) since June 2018. She deployed to assist with the USGS response to the Kilauea Volcano eruption and Hurricane Lane on the island of Hawai'i. On island, Jaimie assisted with the devolution of the Hawai'i Volcanoes Observatory facility, worked as a liaison from OEM, and assisted in the organization of site visits for government officials and partners. Jaimie is also a member of the Department of the Interior Office of Emergency Management's Incident Support Team (a component of the Department Emergency Support Team) and was activated to assist with information management and situational awareness activities for Hurricanes Florence and Michael. When not working on active incidents, she manages after-action reviews and assists with continuity operations and planning, emergency communications, and participates on the USGS Coastal Storm Team and Hazard Response Executive Committee (HREC). Jaimie has also been working with partners at DOI and USGS to create online situational awareness products for USGS OEM to improve internal processes. 

Prior to that, Jaimie worked as an ecologist and laboratory manager for the Wetland Ecosystems Ecology and Biogeochemistry Laboratory (WEEBL) with the U.S. Geological Survey's Water Mission Area in Reston, VA from 2014-2018. The lab research centers on wetland ecosystem ecology, focusing on the interactive influences of geomorphology, hydrology, climate, and biology on nitrogen and phosphorus biogeochemistry in fluvial ecosystems, as well as restoration ecology. Her master's thesis research focused on the response of the soil methanogen community to saltwater intrusion, and how such changes in salinity will subsequently alter carbon cycling in tidal freshwater wetlands. Since joining the USGS, she has managed multiple projects, including work to examine the effect of sea level rise and salinification on the resiliency of coastal wetlands in Virginia, the effect of floodplain restoration on nutrient dynamics in floodplain soils on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and the quantification of floodplain sedimentation, bank erosion, and nutrient budgets in an agricultural watershed. Jaimie is the recipient of a USGS STAR award (2017).

2013                M.S., Biology: Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

2011                B.S., Environmental Studies with Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

2008                B.A. (Hons), 20^th Century European History & Politics with German, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK

Professional Positions

2018 - Present         Emergency Management Specialist, USGS Office of Emergency Management, Natural Hazards

2018 - Present         Ecologist, Safety Team Lead, USGS Projects Laboratory Branch, Laboratory and Analytical Services Division, Water

2017 - 2018              Ecologist, Lab Manager, USGS Projects Laboratory Branch, Laboratory and Analytical Services Division, Water

2014 - 2017              Ecologist, Lab Manager, USGS National Research Program – EB, Water

2014                         Environmental Technologist I, Fairfax County, Norman M. Cole Jr. Plant

2011 - 2013              Graduate Teaching Assistant, VCU Dept. of Biology

2011                         Wetland Biogeochemistry Intern, USC, Baruch Marine Field Laboratory

2009 - 2011              Lab and Research Specialist, VCU, Dept. of Biology

2010                         Undergraduate Research Fellow, VCU-Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Progam

Publications

Noe, G.B., K. Boomer, J.L. Gillespie, C.R. Hupp, M. Martin-Alciati, K. Floro, E.R. Schenk, A. Jacobs, and S. Strano. Manuscript in review (Ecological Engineering). The effects of restored hydrologic connectivity on floodplain trapping vs. release of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment along the Pocomoke River, Maryland USA.

Noe, G.B., C.R. Hupp, E.R. Schenk, K. Krauss, S. McMillan, D. Kroes, S. Ensign, J.L. Gillespie, K. Wolf, C. Ahn. Manuscript in revision. Nutrient and sediment inputs change soil structure and biogeochemistry in floodplain ecosystems: a cross-study synthesis.

Gillespie, J.L., G.B. Noe, C.R. Hupp, A.C. Gellis, and E.R. Schenk. 2018. Floodplain trapping and cycling compared to streambank erosion of sediment and nutrients in an agricultural watershed. Journal of American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 54(2): 565–582. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12624.

Gillespie, J.L., Noe, G.B., Hupp, C.R., Gellis, A.C., and Schenk, E.R., 2017, Floodplain sedimentation, bank erosion, and biogeochemical cycling of sediment and nutrients in Smith Creek (Virginia) 2012-2015: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7Z036BD.

Morrissey, E.M., J.L. Gillespie, J.C. Morina, and R.B. Franklin. 2014. Salinity affects microbial activity and soil organic matter content in tidal wetlands. Global Change Biology, 20: 1351-1362. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12431

Presentations

Noe, G.B.*, C.R. Hupp, S.H. Ensign, J.L. Gillespie, K.W. Krauss. 2017. The sediment shadow in tidal freshwater rivers: Implications for watershed sediment delivery to estuaries and tidal wetland resilience to sea level rise. USGS Chesapeake Bay Program Wetland Working Group, Shepherdstown, WV. [Poster presentation].

Gillespie, J.L.*, G.B. Noe, C.R. Hupp, M. Martin-Alciati, J. Batson, E.R. Schenk, K. Boomer, A. Jacobs, and S. Strano. 2017. The effects of hydrologic reconnection on floodplain water quality functions in an agricultural watershed. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists: Floodplain Restoration Symposium, San Juan, PR [Oral presentation].

G.B. Noe*, C. Hupp, E.R. Schenk, K.W. Krauss, S. McMillan, D. Kroes, S. Ensign, J.L. Gillespie, K. Wolf, and C. Ahn. 2017. Nutrient and sediment inputs and release, soil structure, and biogeochemistry in floodplain ecosystems: a comparison of natural and restored/created wetlands. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists: Floodplain Restoration Symposium, San Juan, PR [Oral presentation].

Boomer, K., M. Dryden, G.B. Noe, J.L. Gillespie*, C.R. Hupp, M. Martin-Alciati, J. Batson, E.R. Schenk, A. Jacobs, S. Strano. 2017. The effects of hydrologic reconnection on floodplain water exchange in an Outer Coastal Plain watershed. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, San Juan, PR [Poster presentation].

Noe, G.B.*, J.L. Gillespie, C.R. Hupp, and K.W. Krauss.  2017.  Does watershed sediment delivery increase the resilience of tidal freshwater wetlands to sea level rise? Geological Society of America – Southeastern Conference.  Richmond, Virginia [Oral Presentation]. 

Noe, G.B.*, J.L. Gillespie, C.R. Hupp, K.W. Krauss, and S. Ensign.  2017.  Sediment delivery from the watershed to the Chesapeake Bay:  The sediment shadow in tidal freshwater rivers.  Chesapeake Bay Program, STAC Water Clarity Synthesis, Annapolis, Maryland [Invited].

Noe, G.B.*, C. Hupp, E. Schenk, K. Krauss, S. McMillan, D. Kroes, S. Ensign, J.L. Gillespie, K. Wolf, and C. Ahn.  2017.   Nutrient and sediment inputs change soil structure and biogeochemistry in floodplain ecosystems: a cross-study synthesis.  USGS Midwest Region Large Rivers Initiative [Invited].

G.B. Noe*, C. Hupp, E.R. Schenk, K.W. Krauss, S. McMillan, D. Kroes, S. Ensign, J.L. Gillespie, K. Wolf, and C. Ahn. 2017. Nutrient and sediment inputs change soil structure and biogeochemistry in floodplain ecosystems: A cross-study synthesis. US-IALE Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. [Invited].

Noe, G.B.*, C.R. Hupp, K.W. Krauss, S. Ensign, J.L. Gillespie. 2017. Sediment delivery from the watershed to the Chesapeake Bay:The sediment shadow in tidal freshwater rivers. Chesapeake Bay Program’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee Water Clarity Webinar. [Webinar].

Noe, G.B.*, C. Hupp, E. Schenk, P.R. Claggett, J.L. Gillespie, M. Martin-Alciati, K. Floro, and N. Bourg.  2016.  Regional measurement and modeling of the input and loss of sediment and nutrients from streambanks and floodplains: The Chesapeake watershed.  USGS Chesapeake Water Quality Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland [Invited].

Gillespie, J.L.*, G.B. Noe, C.R. Hupp, A.C. Gellis, and E.R. Schenk. 2016. Floodplain trapping of sediment and nutrients exceeds bank erosion in stream reaches of Smith Creek, an agricultural watershed. USGS Chesapeake Bay Workshop, Shepherdstown, WV. [Poster presentation].

Martin-Alciati, M,*. J.L. Gillespie, G.B. Noe,  J.V. Loperfido,  C.R. Hupp, K. Boomer, A. Jacobs, S. Strano. 2016. Measuring and predicting phosphorus inputs and release from restored floodplains: Pocomoke River, Maryland. USGS Chesapeake Bay Workshop, Shepherdstown, WV. [Poster presentation].

Bourg, N.A.*, C.R. Hupp, G.B. Noe, J.L. Gillespie, M. Martin-Alciati, D.J. Scheeler. 2016. Changes in Vegetation Composition, Growth, and Mortality of Freshwater Swamp Forests in Relation to Salinity and Sea-Level Rise. USGS Chesapeake Bay Workshop, Shepherdstown, WV. [Poster presentation].

Noe, G.B.*, C.R. Hupp, C. Ahn, K. Wolf, K. Moser, E.R. Schenk, K. Krauss, S. McMillan, S. Ensign, D. Kroes, J.L. Gillespie, A. Jacobs, K. Boomer, S. Strano. 2016. Optimizing design of non-tidal wetland restoration/creation to improve water quality function. USGS Chesapeake Bay Program Wetland Working Group, Shepherdstown, WV. [Invited].

Noe, G.B.*, C.R. Hupp, E.R. Schenk, P. Claggett, J.L. Gillespie, M. Martin-Alciati. 2016. Regional measurement and modeling of the input and loss of sediment and nutrients from floodplains: The Chesapeake watershed. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Corpus Christi, TX. [Oral presentation].

Noe, G.B.*, C. Hupp, E. Schenk, J.L. Gillespie, J. Batson, M. Martin-Alciati, S. Ensign, and P. Claggett.  2015.  Measuring and predicting the input and loss of sediment and nutrients from floodplains and streambanks across the Chesapeake watershed.  Delmarva Conservation Partnership, Wye Mills, Maryland [Invited].

Noe, G.B.*, C. Hupp, E. Schenk, J.L. Gillespie, J. Batson, M. Martin-Alciati, and P. Claggett.  2015.  Measuring and predicting the input and loss of sediment and nutrients from floodplains and streambanks across the Chesapeake watershed.  Chesapeake Bay Program, Annapolis, Maryland [Invited].

Gillespie, J.L.*, G.B. Noe, C.R. Hupp, and E.R. Schenk. 2015. Nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization, deposition, and erosion in floodplains of an agricultural watershed. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Providence, Rhode Island [Oral Presentation].

Noe, G.B.*, JV Loperfido, J.L. Gillespie, M. Martin-Alciati, E. Schenk, and C. Hupp.  2015.  Measuring and predicting P inputs and release from restored floodplains: Pocomoke River, Maryland.  Society of Wetland Scientists.  Providence, Rhode Island [Invited].

Noe, G.B., C.R. Hupp, E.R. Schenk, M. Martin-Alciati*, and J.L. Gillespie. 2015. Measuring and predicting the input and loss of sediment and nutrients from floodplains across the Chesapeake watershed. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Providence, Rhode Island [Poster Presentation].

Gillespie, J.L.*, S.C. Neubauer, and R.B. Franklin. 2013. The impacts of rising salinity on methanogen community abundance and structure. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Duluth, Minnesota [Oral Presentation].

Gillespie, J.L.*, J.M. Battistelli, S.C. Neubauer, and R.B. Franklin. 2013.Methanogen community structure and abundance at the VCU Rice Center. 5th Annual VCU Rice Center Research Symposium, Charles City, Virginia [Oral Presentation].

Gillespie, J.L., J.M. Battistelli*, R.B. Franklin, and S.C. Neubauer, 2012. Methane flux rates in tidal marshes along the salinity gradient of the James and Waccamaw Rivers in VA and SC. 4th Annual VCU Rice Center Research Symposium, Charles City, Virginia [Poster presentation].

Gillespie, J.L.*, R.B. Franklin, and S.C. Neubauer. 2012. Changes in methane fluxes of tidal wetlands along a naturally occurring salinity gradient in the James River. Annual Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Ecological Society of America, Blacksburg, Virginia [Oral Presentation].

Morrissey, E.M.*, J.L. Gillespie, J.C. Morina, and R.B. Franklin. Piecing together how soil organic matter dynamics influence the community structure of denitrification and DNRA organisms in tidal wetlands.

• 2012. 4th Annual VCU Rice Center Research Symposium, Charles City, Virginia [Oral presentation].
• 2012. Annual Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Ecological Society of America, Blacksburg, Virginia [Oral Presentation].

Morrissey, E.M.*, J.C. Morina, J.L. Gillespie, R.B. Franklin, 2012. Linking organic matter breakdown to abundance and community composition of denitrification and DNRA microorganisms in tidal wetlands. Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting at INTERCOL 9 International Wetlands Conference, Orlando, Florida [Oral presentation].

Gillespie, J.L.* and R.B. Franklin. A comparison of microbial community similarity and function in tidal freshwater wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Virginia.

• 2012. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Charleston, South Carolina [Oral presentation].
• 2011. VCU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Richmond, Virginia [Poster presentation].
• 2011. Annual Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Ecological Society of America, Montclair, New Jersey [Oral presentation].

Gillespie, J.L.*, 2010. Understanding patterns in microbial community structure and function in tidal freshwater wetlands. Howard Hughes Medical Institute at VCU 2010 Closing Symposium. Richmond, Virginia [Oral presentation].

* Presenting Author

Emergency Management and EMS Training

• FEMA L0101 Foundations of Emergency Management (June 2018)
• FEMA E0146 Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) (June 2018)
• FEMA E0105 Public Information and Warning (June 2018)
• FEMA Professional Development Series Certificate (December 2017)
• Emergency Medical Operations for CBRNE Incidents (August 2017) 
• Intermediate Hands-On Training for CBRNE Incidents (August 2017)
• ICS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System
• ICS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
• ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
• IS-120 An Introduction to Exercises
• IS-230 Fundamentals of Emergency Management
• IS-235 Emergency Planning
• IS-240 Leadership and Influence
• IS-241 Decision Making and Problem Solving
• IS-242 Effective Communication
• IS-244 Developing and Managing Volunteers
• IS-547 Introduction to Continuity of Operations
• IS-700 NIMS, An Introduction
• IS-800 National Response Framework (NRF), an Introduction
• National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (March 2017)
• OSHA Level 1 HAZMAT First Responder Awareness (FRA) (September 2016)