Jason Patlis has more than two decades of experience in law, policy, finance. Having worked domestically and abroad, Jason specializes in marine conservation, climate change, and foreign assistance.

Prior to joining NMSF, Jason served as vice president and managing director for U.S. government relations at the World Wildlife Fund. He has worked on both sides of the Capitol, serving as deputy staff director for the House Science Committee, and as counsel on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He spent more than five years in Indonesia, first as a Fulbright Senior Scholar studying the country's legal framework, and later as a consultant to projects under the World Bank and USAID. Jason began his legal career as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he worked extensively on issues relating to the Endangered Species Act and protected resources.

Jason is published in both law and policy journals, and has given numerous presentations around the world. He received his J.D. from Cornell University School of Law in 1992, and his B.A. in English from Haverford College in 1985.