George Bonner is a 2021-2022 Veterans Advanced Energy fellow at the Atlantic Council and 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 the US Coast Guard (USCG) in July 2019, he returned home to his new position at the Coastal Studies Institute on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Bonner’s USCG career included command assignments as commander, USCG Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center and as commanding officer of the 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.

Bonner is a registered professional engineer and a national fellow with the Society of American Military Engineers. In 2016, he was recognized as the American Society of Civil Engineers Norfolk Branch government engineer of the year. He serves on the National Hydropower Association Marine Energy Council.

Bonner has an MS in engineering from the University of Illinois and a graduate certificate in coastal engineering from Old Dominion University. He is also a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy.