NOAA

Senior Counsel

Jeff serves as Senior Counsel to PEER, where he specializes in civil service, scientific integrity, and whistleblower protection issues. Jeff was PEER’s Executive Director from 1997 to 2019 and its Pacific Director from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project, representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sectors. Before coming to DC, Jeff worked in California state government for 17 years, mostly in the State Legislature as counsel to various committees where he drafted hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney and an appellate court clerk. He is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

Science Integrity at NOAA: Run Silent, Run Deep

by Jeff Ruch | June 27, 2024
Most agencies sent their draft scientific integrity policies out for public comment, but not the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration ...

Countdown for PEER’s Regulatory Petitions

by Peter Jenkins | May 9, 2024
Read the latest updates on eleven of the regulatory petitions we've worked on this year. With an election just around the corner, now is the time to ramp up action to get our requests granted, especially in case there is a new administration in 2025 ...

Dr. Peter Corkeron: Fighting to Save the North Atlantic Right Whales

by PEER | October 5, 2023
Dr. Corkeron faced enormous pressure during his time at NOAA, to not document and generally suppress concerns over the population management of North Atlantic Right Whales ...

PEERMail | Wildlife Management: Alaska Edition

by PEER | June 27, 2023
Effective, humane wildlife management is critical but Alaska is being hit with a double shot of poor management - in the sea and on land ...