A top attorney at NOAA who previously worked against offshore wind development has been elevated to a newly created senior position as chief of strategy, according to an internal memo obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News.
Anne Hawkins has served as general counsel at NOAA since the early days of the second Trump administration. She was previously the executive director of the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, an activist group that represents the fishing industry and has pushed to block offshore wind projects throughout the country.
It’s not clear what new powers Hawkins will be granted in her role, though NOAA’s acting secretary, Laura Grimm, wrote in the memo that “energy independence” is now a central part of the agency’s strategic mission.
“Our team has recognized her deep policy expertise and vision will be instrumental in shaping our strategic priorities and wants to ensure we achieve our goals efficiently,” according to the memo from Grimm, who is also the agency’s chief of staff.
