Denise Henderson

HR Manager, Organizational Services

Based in: Washington, DC, USA


I was born into a Navy family so we were always near some body of water. Several states and two countries later, it was only natural for me to join the Navy too.  It is hard to not fall in love with the water when you spend so much time on it or near it. Even my sign is the crab!

Living near Cadiz, Spain, my appreciation for beautiful beaches and freshly caught seafood began early.  When I was 12, I fell in love with my first sea creatures - sea otters in Monterey. I would watch them for hours. In Hawaii, my brother and I would snorkel every day. Some days we would help locals with their outrigger canoes just so we could see them go out again much more quickly and become one with the powerful waves. We were used to canoeing on fresh water with just the two of us.  Imagine our delight when we were considered locals and invited to join them. 

In Maine, some of my friends' relatives were lobstermen. This was where I learned about sustainability of sea life. Every trek out someone would explain as they lifted a lobster trap, "If you aren't responsible, there won't be any lobsters left," and they would show us which lobsters were okay to keep, which should be put back.  I learned about preservation of land, animals and culture from Native Alaskans and an uncle who is Northern Cheyenne. I learned enough to want to make a difference.

I'm fascinated by the ocean. My mom loves to sail, my brothers love to fish, and me - I'm content to go along and enjoy the scenery. I love spotting animal life in and out of the water. I've seen many sharks, dolphins, turtles, jelly fish, mussels, clams, crabs, salmon, sword fish, polar bears, and more. 

Working in Human Resources I work with the recruitment, retention, and development of staff members. Working with Oceana provides me an opportunity to tie together my belief in conservation with my work. Working with people that are devoted to protecting our oceans and making a difference in the world is very exciting. We all have to act responsibly and we have to do it now.



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