Eric Bontrager
U.S. Communications Director
Oceana Staff
Eric joined Oceana as Director of U.S. Communications in January 2026.
He is a seasoned communications professional with more than 15 years of experience driving policy change through strategic communications, storytelling, media relations, and coalition building. His expertise lies at the intersection of policy, politics, and communications—translating complex issues into compelling narratives that build consensus and deliver results. He began his career in D.C. as an environmental policy reporter and has worked for advocacy organizations, political campaigns, and on Capitol Hill, and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Public Affairs Officer. Eric came to Oceana from The Nature Conservancy, where he spent more than seven years directing comprehensive communications strategies in support of the organization’s lands, waters, and regulatory policy campaigns. He holds a Bachelor of Science in News and Editorial Journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University. Eric’s fondest memories have always been tied to the ocean—from family vacations along the beaches of the East Coast, to learning as a child about the explorations of Cousteau and Ballard, to scuba diving with his wife in the Caribbean and beyond. He is deeply drawn to mission-focused work and to the idea that we should all do our part to leave this world better than we found it. Eric and his family live in the D.C. suburbs, where they enjoy time with friends and family while taking the rare spare moment to watch their fighting Nationals, scuba dive, and try to improve their homemade pizza.
