A colleague asked that she be cloned. In a way she has been, taking on the responsibilities of another full-time position in addition to her role as program support specialist at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
But there’s only one Jacqueline Laverdure, and the National Ocean Service has named her Employee of the Year.
Within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Ocean Service (NOS) operates under NOAA and oversees nearly 2,000 full-time employees nationwide, including the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf announced Laverdure’s recognition, citing her “demonstration of exceptional and sustained effort.”
Laverdure is a quintessential behind-the-scenes leader. An expert in navigating the federal contracting process, she plays a critical role in keeping tens of millions of dollars in operational funding moving efficiently. Following staff departures in 2025, Laverdure assumed additional responsibilities, including on-site IT management, property custodianship, and serving as a trusted agent for facility security credentials.
Her impact was evident well before 2025. Laverdure developed an annual Industry Day to educate businesses on navigating the federal contracting process — an initiative that strengthens the Florida Keys economy while ensuring the sanctuary receives high-quality, cost-effective services.
“Throughout a turbulent year, Jacqueline was the key to keeping our business processes running and ensuring operations and maintenance continued without interruption,” said Acting Superintendent David Burke, part of the Florida Keys team that submitted the nomination. “Her persistence in adapting to policy and procedural changes paved the way for similar success across the National Marine Sanctuary System.”
