Gulf Coast Joint Venture
US Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
700 Cajundome Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
GCJV Staff
Barry Wilson
Coordinator
USFWS
337-257-8554
barry_wilson@fws.gov
GCJV Staff
Barry Wilson
GCJV Coordinator
337-257-8554
barry_wilson@fws.gov
Bio
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.
Maddison Allen-DeVries
Waterfowl Science Coordinator
Ducks Unlimited
337-399-1231
mallen-devries@ducks.org
GCJV Staff
Maddison Allen-DeVries
Waterfowl Science Coordinator
337-399-1231
mallen-devries@ducks.org
Bio
Maddison is a research scientist with Ducks Unlimited serving as the Waterfowl Science Coordinator for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. Prior to joining the Joint Venture in 2026, she researched mallard survival and population demography using winter banding data with the Osborne Lab. Her academic background includes an M.S. in Forest Resources with a concentration in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation with a minor in Statistics from Michigan Technological University.
Her professional interests include survival and population demographics, as well as the impacts of environmental stressors, anthropogenic disturbance, and intraspecific hybridization on waterfowl behavior and population dynamics. Outside of work, Maddison enjoys hiking, wildlife photography, kayaking, and spending time with family and friends.
Owen Best
Habitat Delivery Coordinator
American Bird Conservancy
@abc.org
GCJV Staff
Owen Best
Habitat Delivery Coordinator
@abc.org
Bio
Owen is a native Texan, having earned his B.S. in Forestry at Stephen F. Austin University. He served for 5 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department managing the Justin Hurst WMA, and most recently served 5 years as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Coordinator with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Owen brings a wealth of experience with several private lands habitat delivery programs that are integral to the GCJV, and he looks forward to supporting those programs and others that advance GCJV habitat objectives and priorities.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his young son, running his dogs, and pursuing game in the great outdoors.
Nicholas Enwright, PhD.
Geographer
USGS
337-262-7613
enwrightn@usgs.gov
GCJV Staff
Nicholas Enwright, PhD.
Geographer
337-262-7613
enwrightn@usgs.gov
Bio
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.
Kelsey Biles, PhD
Migratory Birds Biologist
USFWS
505-546-7648
kelsey_biles@fws.gov
GCJV Staff
Kelsey Biles, PhD
Migratory Birds Biologist
505-546-7648
kelsey_biles@fws.gov
Bio
Kelsey is a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program, currently serving as the interim Coastal Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (C-GRIP) coordinator for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. Prior to her work with the Joint Venture, she worked for USFWS as a technical expert on the intersection of energy development and migratory birds, and as the Conservation Director for Houston Audubon. Her academic background includes a PhD in Biology from the University of North Texas, where she studied American Kestrel behavioral and population ecology, as well as an M.S. in Biology from Baylor University and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Her professional interests include avian conservation, behavioral ecology, sociality and cognition in birds, and conservation outreach and education. When not working, Kelsey enjoys birding, reading, sewing, traveling, and tending to her many pets at home.
Jocelyn Hernandez
Coordinating Wildlife Biologist
Quail Forever
361-935-6292
jhernandez@quailforever.org
GCJV Staff
Jocelyn Hernandez
Coordinating Wildlife Biologist
361-935-6292
jhernandez@quailforever.org
Bio
Jocelyn is a coordinating wildlife biologist with Quail Forever based out of the NRCS Field Office in Edna. Jocelyn works as a partner with NRCS and GCJV to deliver C-GRIP to benefit grasslands of the Texas Midcoast. Before her work with Quail Forever, Jocelyn worked as a seasonal wildlife research technician, including her time banding, tracking, and analyzing spatial movement of Wild Turkeys at Texas Tech University and University of Nebraska - Lincoln. She also worked for the University of Washington and Point Blue in the Pacific Northwest, conducting avian point count and playback surveys. Her academic background includes a B.S. in Natural Resource Management with a concentration in Wildlife Biology from Texas Tech University.
Her professional interests include avian conservation, landowner outreach and education, and using prescribed fire to benefit habitat, wildlife, and people. Outside of work, she enjoys walking her dog, crafting, traveling for concerts, birding, and she is currently learning to hunt.
Bree J. Landry
GIS Specialist I
USGS Contractor
blandry@contractor.usgs.gov
GCJV Staff
Bree J. Landry
blandry@contractor.usgs.gov
Bio
Bree is a GIS Specialist with Cherokee United Services in support of the U.S. Geological Survey who has assisted with remote sensing and geospatial analyses for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture since 2025. Currently, she is also a master's student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette focusing on Environmental Resource Science in water quality and geospatial technologies. Her academic background includes a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Her professional interests include GIS, remote sensing, aquatic ecology, water quality, photochemistry, and coastal dynamics. When not working, Bree enjoys traveling, reading, art, scuba diving, fishing, and spending time with friends and family.
Liam M. Ryan
Student Services Contractor
USGS
lryan@contractor.usgs.gov
GCJV Staff
Liam M. Ryan
lryan@contractor.usgs.gov
Bio
Liam is a Student Services Contractor with the U.S. Geological Survey who has assisted with the Gulf Coast Joint Venture since July of 2026. Prior to that he worked as a geospatial analyst with GeoOwl and as a teaching assistant at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His academic background includes an M.S. in Geoscience, as well as a B.S. in Oceanography while minoring in Geospatial Technology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
His professional interests include using GIS, remote sensing, and drones for studying coastal habitats such as barrier islands and coastal wetlands. When not working, he enjoys watching and playing sports, fishing, making music, cooking, and video games.
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