Who We Are
Meet the Applied Coastal Team
Mark R. Byrnes, Ph.D.
Mark is Principal Coastal Scientist at Applied Coastal Research Associates, Inc. (Applied Coastal). For the past 38 years, he has been a Principal Investigator/Program Manager on more than 90 coastal and nearshore process studies as a Research Scientist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (formerly the Coastal Engineering Research Center); Coastal Geology Section Chief for the Louisiana Geological Survey; Research Professor at the Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University; Senior Coastal Scientist at Aubrey Consulting, Inc.; and Principal Coastal Scientist at Applied Coastal. The emphasis for most studies has been on regional coastal change and geomorphic evolution of nearshore sedimentary deposits (shoreline and bathymetric change), physical environmental impact assessments for coastal and estuarine wetlands, subsidence trends in deltaic environments, sediment budget evaluations, shoreline restoration strategies, wetland loss delineation and classification, surface hydrology and sediment transport processes, offshore sand resource assessments, and geologic framework of coastal deposits. He has authored more than 100 publications in these research areas.
Jennifer L. Berlinghoff, M.S.
Jen is a Senior Environmental Scientist specializing in coastal GIS analyses involving shoreline interpretation and mapping, wetland and bathymetric change, littoral sediment budget evaluations, and wetland loss and damage assessment. She has been involved in a broad range of regional geomorphic change projects using GIS and remote sensing software, as well as researching and compiling shoreline and bathymetric surveys, including GPS and Lidar surveys, for evaluating coastal sedimentation processes in beach and wetland environments throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico. She also has participated in various field data collection efforts for wetland projects in south Louisiana deltaic habitats.
Benjamin S. Beasley, M.S.
Ben is a Senior Earth and Environmental Scientist specializing in wetland change analyses in Louisiana deltaic habitats and coastal erosion processes associated with shoreface retreat along the barrier coastline of south Louisiana. He compiles and analyzes aerial imagery, bathymetry, and Lidar surveys to conduct a broad range of site-specific and regional geomorphic change and sediment budget analyses. Using GIS/remote sensing software, Ben evaluates coastal sedimentation processes in beach and wetland environments throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Caroline R. Narron, M.S.
Caroline is a Coastal Scientist/Remote Sensing-GIS Specialist specializing in wetland change processes in coastal habitats. Her expertise focuses on scientific data analyses and spatial analyses using GIS and remote sensing tools to assess physical environmental conditions and changes in coastal wetland ecosystems. Beyond data analyses, project-specific contributions involve thematic map creation and visual representations of data layers, as well as preparation of detailed technical reports on wetland change and the processes affecting change.
Sarah F. Griffee, M.A.
Sarah is a Coastal GIS Specialist involved in a broad range of regional geomorphic change and sediment budget analyses, as well as researching and compiling shoreline and bathymetry surveys, including GPS and Lidar surveys, for evaluating coastal sedimentation processes and regional response of beaches and inlets to incident wave and current processes.
Louis D. Britsch, III, Ph.D.
Del has been a Senior Coastal Geologist at Applied Coastal since 2015 after retiring from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District. As a USACE employee, he was Principal Investigator/Project Geologist on more than 100 coastal geology and engineering studies as a Research Scientist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (formerly the Coastal Engineering Research Center); Research Geologist, Geotechnical Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center; Senior Geologist, USACE New Orleans District. Del continues to provide his expertise and experience in coastal and deltaic geology on Applied Coastal projects related to wetland loss, shoreline dynamics, subsidence, and sea-level rise.
Cheryl Albaugh
Ms. Albaugh joined the Applied Coastal team in 2021 and brings with her over 20 years of office administrative and managing experience. As officer manager, she is responsible for accounting and contract management while performing a broad range of administrative roles, focused on ensuring seamless office operations.
