Dr. Ron Hill, is the branch chief of the Biology and Life History Branch of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center.

Dr. Hill has also served as the center's Director of the Panama City Laboratory from May 11, 2020 to Oct 10, 2021. Ron earned an M.S. in Coastal Zone Studies/Biology from the University of West Florida and a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography/Fisheries from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. He joined NOAA Fisheries, first, as a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, and then as a federal employee in the Office of Habitat Conservation in Silver Spring.  After more than three years, embroiled in creating essential fish habitat regulations, Dr. Hill feels fortunate to have moved to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center's Galveston lab.  Since 2001, he has focused on Caribbean reef fisheries research.  He has studied fish assemblages on artificial and coral reefs and on acroporid (staghorn coral) colonies; effectiveness of escape vents to reduce fish trap bycatch; distribution, density, movement patterns, and home range of queen conch; spatial and temporal distribution of grouper spawning; genotypic variation of acroporid coral species and their hybrid; and the hybrid’s performance in restoration.  Dr. Hill has collaborated with fellow researchers in the Fishery Ecology Branch in Galveston and with academic, state, territorial, federal, NGO, and fishing industry partners.  Other than being an avid snorkeler and NOAA-certified diver, he reads for enjoyment, plays a round of golf every 3-4 years, and swims and cycles for exercise since his knees insisted he give up his life-long love of playing soccer.