David Slade '81, the editor of Putting the Public Trust Doctrine to Work (1997), has spent his legal career doing just that. Prior to law school David received a B.S. in terrestrial and aquatic ecology and an M.S. in marine ecology. During law school David externed with the U.S. Department of Commerce drafting decisions on commercial fisheries regulation, marine mammal and endangered species protection and international trade, and with the Office of the Special Assistant of NOAA for the Law of the Sea Conference. After graduation he served on the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere before becoming general counsel, and then director, of the Coastal States Organization addressing, among numerous other issues, fisheries, marine mammals, ports and harbors, marine sanctuaries, wetlands, public trust lands and waters, oil spill liability and response, offshore oil and gas development, and international treaties. He oversaw litigation in the Supreme Court, including Phillips Petroleum v. Mississippi, in which his client was the Thirteen Original States. David is the founder and chair of the SladeChild Foundation Charitable Trust, which assists destitute children in twelve countries, including the United States. He currently serves as an attorney and consultant to several organizations including the Association of National Estuary Programs, Cousteau Society and Coastal States Organization.