John Amos, President: John is an expert in the use of satellite images and other remote sensing data to understand and communicate local, regional and global environmental issues. Educated as a geologist (University of Wyoming – MS, Cornell University – BS) he spent 10 years applying image processing, image analysis, and digital mapping techniques to conduct environmental, exploration and resource assessment studies for the energy and mining industries and government entities. In 2001 John founded SkyTruth, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to strengthening environmental conservation by illuminating environmental problems and issues through the use of satellite images, aerial photographs, and other kinds of remote sensing and digital mapping. As President he develops organizational strategy and partnerships, mentors technical staff, and provides remote sensing expertise as needed. He also serves on the boards of Chesapeake Commons and Global Fishing Watch, a nonprofit organization formed by SkyTruth, Oceana and Google, and on the advisory board of The Ocean Foundation. John and his wife Amy live in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Jenny Allen, Chief Operating Officer: Jenny leads the daily operations of SkyTruth, aligning program activity and goals with a strategic vision, as well as overseeing finance, communications, partnerships and board relations. In close collaboration with John Amos, she works to ensure adequate resources for the long-term sustainability of SkyTruth’s mission. Jenny is a member of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the body that oversees the state’s baccalaureate institutions. She has served on a variety of nonprofit boards, including the Contemporary American Theater Festival, New Dramatists, North Country School and the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation and currently represents SkyTruth on the Global Fishing Watch board. Jenny earned a B.A. from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., an M.A. from the University of Georgia, and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management at Georgetown University. Jenny lives in Shepherdstown with her son, Grady.
Johnna Armstrong, Elitatrix: Before coming to SkyTruth in an official capacity, Johnna worked as a freelance web and UX developer; she has done work for both SkyTruth and Global Fishing Watch in stealth mode for several years. Prior to working as a freelancer, she worked at the Bureau of National Affairs (now Bloomberg BNA), managing production of the company’s online tax publication subscriptions, which were initially mailed out on CD-ROM(!). Johnna lives in Shepherdstown with her husband and faithful watchdog, Lexie (she appears on SkyTruth’s home page). She has an international MBA from The American Graduate School of International Management. Johnna is an avid genealogist and serves on the board of the local historical society and museum. She is also an aspiring tai chi ninja warrior and not bad at knitting socks.
Teri Biebel, Office Administrator: Teri comes to us after a long career in the casino industry, where she worked on both the customer service side and the administrative side. Teri grew up in Wildwood, along the Southern New Jersey coastline and attended the former Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) before leaving to work in the bright lights of Atlantic City. After 24 years, she decided to make a major career change and wanted to work in a much more positive environment. She has been involved in other non-profit organizations including the Girl Scouts Council of the Nations Capital as a Girl Scout leader. Teri lives in Shepherdstown with her husband Don, her daughters Jennifer and Amanda, and her dogs Henry and Cosmo. She is an avid runner and completed the Goofy Challenge (Half-Marathon & Full-Marathon in one weekend) in January 2012.
Bjorn Bergman, Analyst: Bjorn has previously worked in a research lab and in collecting biological data on commercial fishing boats in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. At SkyTruth he works to track fishing activity in the Pacific and understand it within a complex framework of international regulations. Bjorn has traveled extensively throughout Latin America, particularly in Peru where he spent time as a child and returns frequently.
Dan Cogswell, Software Developer: Dan has been a software developer for 30 some years, working first in local government and then in the private sector with LEIDOS Biomedical. He has an IT degree from Shepherd University and a Data Science Certificate from Johns Hopkins through Coursera. He and his wife Margaret moved to Shepherdstown in 1986. Dan is a past president of Potomac Valley Audubon Society and its current treasurer, and has held leadership roles with several youth soccer organizations. He also enjoys birding, traveling, old movies and an embarrassing number of comic strips.
Ry Covington, Technical Program Director: Ry leads SkyTruth’s conservation technology program. His work combines geographic information science (GIS), remote sensing, and machine learning to identify, map, and monitor threats to the planet. Ry holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he studied the spatial dynamics of environmental impact assessment, especially as they relate to questions of environmental injustice and human health risk. Before joining SkyTruth in 2017, Ry led the spatial science program at Defenders of Wildlife, using remotely-sensed imagery to identify priority places for wildlife conservation, track long-term changes in habitat quantity and quality, and make wildlife-relevant spatial data and analyses more accessible and usable on the web. In his free time, Ry enjoys quality time with family and friends, dusty books, good music, seasonal food and beverages, and all things non-human. Check him out at rycovington.com.
Christian Thomas, Geospatial Engineer: Christian is a native of Shepherdstown, West Virginia who joined the SkyTruth team after graduating from West Virginia University where he studied Geography and Environmental Geoscience. He leads SkyTruth’s resource extraction monitoring work, both on land and at sea, focusing on surface mining, offshore infrastructure development, and marine pollution events. In addition to utilizing his background in background in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, he has helped to design lessons for SkyTruth’s educational outreach program. When he’s not in the office, Christian enjoys travel, intricate board games, and adventuring in the great outdoors.
SkyTruth Interns
Rhiannon English
SkyTruth
Lucy Meyer
SkyTruth