Monica Medina currently serves as the senior director of international ocean policy at the National Geographic Society. Prior to joining National Geographic in 2014, Medina served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, advising him on all issues concerning the environment, energy, climate change, and natural resource management, as well as women in the military. Previously, Medina served as the Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA, where she led efforts on Arctic conservation, restoration of the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, endangered species conservation, and fisheries management and enforcement policy.  Earlier, Medina served on the transition team for the Obama Administration and held positions at the Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. office of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.  She also served as the U.S. Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission, and represented the U.S. at numerous international meetings. Medina is currently a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.