George Bonner serves as North Carolina’s Director of Renewable Ocean Energy leading research and development of marine energy solutions across the University of North Carolina system. Following retirement from a 30-year career in the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG), Captain Bonner returned home to his current role at the Coastal Studies Institute on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. As part of a Department of Energy consortium as a National Marine Renewable Energy Center, he also leads the Atlantic Marine Energy Center as a Co-Director.

Captain Bonner’s USCG career included command assignments as Commander, USCG Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center and Commanding Officer of USCG Facilities Design and Construction Center. Throughout his career, he has led strategic efforts to enhance coastal infrastructure resiliency and sustainability while adapting to a changing climate. Captain Bonner is a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy with a degree in Civil Engineering. He has a Graduate Certificate in Coastal Engineering from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Engineering from University of Illinois.