 What is your current job and what does it entail?
I am an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Puerto Rico, where my case load includes environmental crimes investigations as well as narcotics and money laundering. I also operate my own business, Archeo Marine Research, where I work as a consultant and researcher in maritime archaeology. My clients are mostly developers and government agencies that must comply with government requirements in order to be able to build structures on the shoreline or in the sea.
What was the key factor in your career decision?
The decisive factor was definitely my passion for the sea, which I developed during my early childhood. My curiosity regarding human behavior also influenced my decisions.
What do like most about your career?
I like having the opportunity to combine my interest in human behavior and my love of the sea while studying how human beings have interacted with the marine environment at different times in history.
What do you like least about your career?
This field is relatively new, and it can be frustrating to deal with people who do not understand its importance. Even worse is running into treasure hunters with no respect for history.
What do you do to relax?
Mostly, I go to the beach. I love sail sports: windsurfing, sailboating. I enjoy diving and being submerged for long periods of time, but I always follow the recommended decompression guidelines. On land, I enjoy horseback riding, the movies, and the theater.
Who are your heroes/heroines?
I don't have a particular hero, but I admire the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart, and all the other determined, creative, and courageous women who were not afraid to make career choices when there were very few opportunities and lots of restrictions and limitations for them.
What advice would you give a high school student who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in your field?
Persevere and make your dreams come true. Maritime archaeology and environmental law are fabulous disciplines. The work is hard, but the effort is worthwhile. These are the professions of the future.
Are career opportunities in your field increasing or decreasing and why?
Opportunities in the fields of maritime archaeology and environmental law are definitely on the rise. As I mentioned earlier, these are new and unfamiliar fields to many. In Puerto Rico, for example, I was the first person to select the career of marine archaeologist. Although two other archaeologists followed my footsteps, the shipwrecks to be explored and the research to be undertaken in relation to the island's maritime history are considerable. On the other hand, environmental lawyers are becoming indispensable to protect natural resources and to establish controls to global commercial development.
What will you be doing 10 years from today?
I'll probably be working as a lawyer specializing in environmental law. This branch of law includes maritime archaeology and also provides the tools for developing legislation to protect archaeological findings. I hope to continue offering consulting services through Archeo Marine Research. My most precious dream is to create a nonprofit maritime archaeology research institute in Puerto Rico in order to explore and investigate the territorial waters of the island and the Caribbean.
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