Jonathan D. Brucker brings over 20 years of experience in estuarine ecology, resource management, and aquatic restoration to AquaTech Eco Consultants. He has served in senior roles with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection and most recently with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a NEPA Biologist. His career reflects a deep commitment to protecting, restoring, and managing Florida’s coastal and aquatic resources.
As Manager of the Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserves for FDEP, Jonathan oversaw operations for St. Andrews Bay, St. Joseph Bay, Apalachicola Bay, and Alligator Harbor. In this role, he supervised staff, managed budgets, directed permitting and compliance processes, and coordinated multi-agency projects. He also provided oversight for multiple Deepwater Horizon-funded restoration initiatives, ensuring successful project implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
Jonathan’s technical expertise includes water quality monitoring, seagrass and propeller-scar restoration, oyster restoration, and shoreline stabilization projects. He has published peer-reviewed work on oyster population recovery and sediment tube restoration methods for seagrass meadows, further demonstrating his leadership in applied restoration science.
He is highly experienced in NEPA compliance, permitting, and interagency coordination, with a track record of facilitating regulatory reviews for projects involving the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Essential Fish Habitat provisions. His ability to integrate ecological science with regulatory frameworks has supported the advancement of multiple large-scale restoration programs across Florida.
Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina, graduating magna cum laude. His professional certifications include SCUBA, CPR, Aquatic Science Educator Certification, ATV Certification, and U.S. Power Squadron Boat Smart Certification. He has received multiple awards for his contributions to restoration, including the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association’s Best Restored Shores Award (2023) and two FDEP OneDEP Awards.
With his extensive background in estuarine resource management and his proven record in leading restoration projects, Jonathan is a valuable member of AquaTech Eco Consultants’ team, supporting our mission to deliver science-based, cost-effective aquatic habitat restoration solutions.
