Janet Whaley

Background

About Janet Whaley

Dr. Janet Whaley is the lead veterinarian and Chief of Operations for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service Seafood Inspection Program. Dr. Whaley is the expert for the agency on aquatic animal health issues related to aquaculture and trade. She has over 30 years of experience in the U.S. federal government and industry working in the areas of veterinary medicine, toxicology, epidemiology, risk assessment, policy and natural resource management. She currently serves on several national and international committees including the US-Japan Natural Resources Panel on Aquaculture (U.S. Chair), the International Council for Exploration of the Seas Working Group on Pathogens and Diseases of Marine Organisms (U.S. representative), the American Veterinary Medical Association (Committee on Antimicrobials), the American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section (Blue Book Inspection Standards Committee and the Policy and Position Development Committee) and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.She is a 2021 alumni of the prestigious NOAA Leadership Competencies Development Program completing several developmental leadership roles in three different NOAA line offices (National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, and National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service). Before rejoining NOAA Fisheries in January 2017, Dr. Whaley served as a technical lead and manager at Exponent Inc.(a science and engineering firm), on a wide range of veterinary, wildlife and aquatic animal health issues. Her clients included companies in the energy, pharmaceutical, insurance, and legal sectors. Prior to Exponent, she coordinated two national programs for NOAA Fisheries and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) providing national leadership and direction. She served as the marine mammal stranding response program coordinator for NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources and as the aquaculture health program manager for APHIS Veterinary Services. Dr. Whaley holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science in biology degree from Florida Southern College. She has also conducted post-doctoral graduate research in immunotoxicology at Virginia Tech University. She has authored and co-authored over 30 articles and technical reports and routinely presents at professional societies and public forums. She is a member of several professional organizations and serves on committees and leadership positions.