Honoring military service and advancing U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i’s environmental mission
Last month, the U.S. celebrated Military Appreciation Month to recognize and honor the service and sacrifices of past and present military members, as well as their families. Since the mid-1980s, CEMML staff have been in embedded at military installations across the U.S and overseas, including over 100 in Hawai‘i. CEMML’s collaboration with the military community strengthens the military mission, augments resource conservation efforts across the Hawaiian Islands, and supports military members during and after their service.
June 5, 2026
Through CEMML, young biologist lives her wildlife management dreams in Florida
CEMML’s Desirae Minns spent her childhood catching critters and bugs with aspirations of a life spent wrangling gators. Her passion for the outdoors led to an associate’s degree in math and biological sciences and later a bachelor’s degree in biology. After graduating in 2024, Minns saw a posting for CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program in Florida. She saw it as the perfect opportunity to gain experience and launch her career as a biologist.
May 29, 2026
CEMML program manager receives award from National Military Fish and Wildlife Association
In April, CEMML’s Lena Schnell was presented with the Military Natural Resource Conservation Research Award for her work at Pōhakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Over her 23 years with CEMML in support of PTA, Schnell has developed management programs for federally listed plant and wildlife species that support adaptive management and Endangered Species Act compliance.
May 14, 2026
CEMML helps the Park Service get data into scientists’ hands
As part of an effort to better manage National Park lands, an Inventory and Monitoring program has been underway since 1998. Through a partnership between NPS and CEMML, CEMML’s Issac Quevedo coordinates the data publication team and is helping lead a push to standardize data that is collected with the parks and disseminate it publicly.
May 12, 2026
Video: CEMML watershed management biologist discusses 2026 fish surveys at Fort McCoy
CEMML watershed management biologist, Derek Maki was interviewed by Scott Sturkol of the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office in Wisconsin and discusses how completing fish surveys help manage fisheries at the installation.
April 22, 2026
CEMML natural resources specialist shares impacts of kona storms at Bellows Air Force Station
March 2026 brought two kona storms to the Hawai’ian Islands, delivering some of the heaviest rainfall recorded in more than 40 years. In an article by Senior Airman Aden Brown of the U.S. Air Force’s 15th Wing, CEMML’s Emma Beard shares insight into the environmental challenges brought by the storms and the cleanup efforts that followed their passing.
April 20, 2026
On Guam, NPS and CEMML work together to curb one of “world’s worst” invasive species
Who knew such a small creature could be so destructive? The National Parks Service and CEMML, that’s who. The removal of the highly invasive little fire ant on Guam is key to a multi-agency program to restore native ecosystems and rare forest birds. The ant’s presence on Guam is detrimental to rare birds as it destroys avian food sources such as insects and larvae.
April 14, 2026
CEMML develops massive map for military training exercise
For a recent large-scale training event at the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, an equally large-scale map was needed to facilitate the training work. CEMML staff were called upon to deliver a 49-foot by 26-foot map of three Army training areas near Fairbanks. Despite tight deadlines, CEMML staff from multiple Alaskan installations came together to assemble the map just in time for the training.
April 10, 2026
From wilderness guide to environmental specialist: How CEMML’s early-career program helped one intern find her path
After early job experiences as a wilderness guide and ski instructor, Ellery McCaw came into CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program expecting just a part-time internship. What she found was a platform to gain career insights and build on technical skills. She left the program confident that the critical administrative and procedural skills she acquired will help her advance her career ambitions.
March 13, 2026
Community partnerships drive conservation success at Bellows Air Force Station
For Emma Beard, a CEMML natural resource specialist based at Bellows Air Force Station in Hawai’i, the work is all about sustainability – ecologically, culturally, and operationally. To achieve that, it takes a whole community. Beard regularly brings together service members, educators, community leaders and volunteers all in the name of an island-wide conservation effort.
February 12, 2026
It started with a single map: How wetland delineation is becoming a pillar in CEMML’s $10M Air Force GIS program
It began as just another mapping project, albeit a challenging one, for CEMML’s GIS Team to map the boundaries of wetland areas at Patrick Space Force Base in Florida. Little did the team know that their efforts would result in the creation of a new model for wetland delineation across the military’s vast network of land.
February 10, 2026
From journalist to archaeologist: My journey as a cultural resources technician
After a seven-year career in journalism, Lucas Chapman was looking for a change. He completed a master’s degree in archaeology and was looking for a way to gain practical experience in his new career path. After coming across CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program, he found just the opportunity he was looking for.
February 5, 2026