Competitively selected by the state Sea Grant Directors, then subjected to a nationally competitive selection process, Knauss fellows are placed in prominent policy relevant positions in Washington, D.C., to gain experience in marine and coastal policy.

McDermott will serve in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. McDermott is the third Knauss fellow selected from the UF Law ELULP since 2005.

He succeeds Heather Halter and Melanie King, both of whom now work at NOAA.