Makeda Okolo

Makeda Okolo serves as the director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA). In this role she leads the agency’s efforts to strategically engage Congressional, Intergovernmental and Tribal partners as it relates to the NOAA mission.

She previously served in senior positions in OLIA, NOAA’s National Ocean Service, NOAA’s Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Operations and with the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Prior to joining the agency, Okolo worked on Capitol Hill for 11 years where she served as energy and environmental policy advisor to Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Professional highlights include conservation efforts in South Africa and Belize as well as her leadership of the Southeast and Caribbean Environmental Justice Community of Practice in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation.

Okolo is from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from American University and a dual M.S./M.P.P. in Conservation Biology/Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park.