Barry Wilson

GCJV Coordinator

337-262-7015

barry_wilson@fws.gov

Bio

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Barry is a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program who has served as the Coordinator for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture since 2004. Prior to that he worked as the GCJV Biological Team Leader (a Ducks Unlimited position), a refuge waterfowl biologist for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and as a research associate for Delta Waterfowl Foundation. His academic background includes an M.S. in Wildlife Science from Louisiana State University and a B.S. in Biology from Midwestern State University.

His professional interests include bird habitat-population relationships, waterfowl population dynamics, human dimensions of natural resource management, and wetland habitat management. When not working, he enjoys harvesting and consuming wetland products including birds, crustaceans, fish, mammals, and amphibians.

Bill Vermillion

Bird Conservation Specialist

337-262-7013

william_vermillion@fws.gov

Bio

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William (Bill) Vermillion is Bird Conservation Specialist for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV). He graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology-Wildlife Management. Upon graduation, Bill worked approximately five years as an interpretive naturalist for the City of Lafayette, Louisiana, before taking a position with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Natural Heritage Program. In 2001, he joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist in the Louisiana Ecological Services Field Office. In 2005, he accepted his current position with the GCJV. His major duties include developing population and habitat objectives for priority landbird, shorebird, and waterbird species in the GCJV region, reviewing and ranking bird conservation grant proposals, assisting partner agencies with bird habitat project planning and implementation, and collaborating with researchers and biologists to address information needs relative to bird conservation planning.

In his spare time, Bill enjoys birding, fishing, hiking, running, cooking, and growing vegetables.

Steve DeMaso, PhD.

Monitoring Coordinator

337-262-7012

steve_demaso@fws.gov

Bio

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Steve is a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program who serves as the Monitoring Coordinator for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture since 2010 and Coastal Grasslands Restoration Incentive Program Coordinator since 2017. Prior to moving to Louisiana, he worked as a Research Scientist for the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville; Upland Game Bird Program Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Texas A&M University in College Station and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, an M.S. in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University.

His professional interests include population ecology, applied research, simulation modeling, and upland game bird population dynamics, and rangeland/grassland habitat management. Away from work, Steve enjoys hunting upland game birds, whitetail deer, and training bird dogs.

Joe Lancaster, PhD.

Biological Team Leader

337-262-7005

jlancaster@ducks.org

Bio

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Joe is a research scientist with Ducks Unlimited serving as Biological Team Leader for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. Prior to joining the Joint Venture in 2019, he worked as a post-doctoral research assistant with the University of Illinois, Illinois Natural History Survey at the Forbes Biological Station, Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center and gained considerable field experience in research technician positions with Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, and Mississippi State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Forest Resources and a M.S. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture from Mississippi State University and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University.

His professional interests include resource use by waterfowl in relation to anthropogenic disturbance, the role of waterfowl sanctuary, bioenergetics, and survival demographics. Outside of work, he enjoys waterfowl hunting, boating, fishing, woodworking, and spending time with family in the outdoors.

Nicholas Enwright, PhD.

Geographer

337-262-7613

enwrightn@usgs.gov

Bio

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Nicholas is a geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey who has assisted with the Gulf Coast Joint Venture remote sensing and geospatial analyses since 2010. Prior to that he worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant at the University of North Texas and a geographic information systems intern for Collin County, Texas. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Geography and Anthropology from Louisiana State University, an M.S. in Applied Geography from the University of North Texas, and a B.S. in Geography from the University of North Texas.

His professional interests include GIS and remote sensing applications to natural resource assessments and restoration monitoring with an emphasis on barrier islands and coastal wetlands. When not working, he enjoys spending time with family, watching sports, cooking, running, and reading fantasy novels.