Jeff Benoit has over 25 years of professional experience and leadership in coastal management and marine conservation in both national and international affairs. His experience spans across state, federal, and nongovernmental organizations as well as the private sector. He served from 1993 to 2001 as Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) in Washington D.C. In his capacity as Director, Jeff led three national programs for coastal and marine stewardship including, Coastal Zone Management, Estuarine Research Reserves, and Marine Sanctuaries. He frequently testified before Congress and represented the agency in a variety of forums. Prior to accepting his position at NOAA, Jeff served from 1978 to 1993 in the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program, initially as a Coastal Geologist and later as the Director. In August 2007, Jeff became Preident of Restore America’s Estuaries, a national NGO based in Arlington, VA

Jeff has been active in international affairs as well. He led a 1995 delegation to the People's Republic of China and returned again in 1998 to coordinate future efforts in coastal management. In 1995, Jeff initiated a cooperative agreement on marine policy between NOAA and the Republic of Ireland. Since leaving NOAA, Jeff has also served clients in Jordan and Indonesia.

In addition to his international activities, Jeff has completed projects for clients that include the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, and the Association of National Estuary Programs.

Jeff is also the owner and Principal of J.R. Benoit Consulting, offering expertise in coastal management and marine conservation with a focus on policy analysis, program assessment, and strategic planning.