Melanie Hernandez, JD, CEP

EXPERIENCE

Melanie is a licensed environmental attorney (JD) and a Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) with more than 21 years of environmental planning and regulatory experience with the U.S. Department of Defense and in the private sector. She has a track record of successfully managing high-profile and complex multi-million-dollar environmental planning programs for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Melanie’s 20+ environmental law career features experience with U.S. law firms, large and small environmental companies, and as a U.S. Marine Corps civilian. She led the largest Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to expand training in the Pacific for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), managing a team of more than 40 people and receiving the highest client performance ratings possible.

She served five years in Okinawa, Japan, as the regional environmental planner for the U.S. Marine Corps in the region, spearheading the environmental planning program for installations in Japan and South Korea. While overseas, she managed several environmental issues of strategic significance to the U.S. and Japan, including the environmental review necessary to base and operate two new U.S. military aircraft in Japan (the MV-22 Osprey and Joint Strike Fighter). She ensured the successful completion of one of the most complex projects overseas for the U.S. Marine Corps.

She has also led and supported numerous Environmental Assessments for the DoD, General Services Administration, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

EDUCATION

George Washington University Law School, Juris Doctor, 1996

Andrews University, Bachelor of Science, Political Economics, cum laude with honors, 1993

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS/SECURITY CLEARANCE

Bar Admissions: Maryland, Washington, DC

Court Admissions: Court of Appeals of Maryland, District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Certified Environmental Planner

Memberships: National Association of Environmental Professionals, Society of American Military Engineers

Department of Defense Security Clearance (Secret)

AWARDS

Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC) and III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Commanding General’s Letters of Appreciation

Future Leader Scholar, 2016

Executive Leadership Program, 2013 graduating class speaker

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Environmental Planning, NEPA Project Management

Environmental Compliance