Frank Hopf and Our Team

Dr. Frank Hopf received his PhD in Coastal Geomorphology in 2011 from Texas A&M University. He also holds degrees in Civil Engineering from Lafayette College and an MBA from Boston University. Frank Hopf has been a registered Professional Engineer in Texas since 1987. Frank Hopf pursued the doctorate in his first intellectual love, geography, after he retired from a 35 year career as an engineer and manager in the petroleum industry. While pursuing his doctorate and after graduating, he taught geology and geography courses at Texas A&M. His research interests include fluvial and coastal flooding, dune and beach processes, natural and nature based restoration of coastal dunes, and public policy making. He is a member of the American Shore and Beach Protective Association (ASPBA) and its Science and Technology committee; the American Society of Civil Engineers; the Association of State Flood Plain Managers and the Florida Floodplain Managers Association. In 2015, after a long search, Frank found a developed beach community where ongoing beach restoration and dune protections provided a great place to retire and enjoy the beach. Initially he was content to enjoy retirement and primarily took time to support the community’s commitment to a sustainable beach/dune system on Amelia Island, Florida. He also provided volunteer consulting services and public awareness presentations largely organized by a local environmental non-profit organization, the Amelia Island Beach and Marine Life Conservancy. In 2020, he established the Dune Science Group (DSG) to help individuals and groups interested in employing natural and nature-based methods for restoring the beach and dunes for property protection, habitat value and improving resiliency for the beach. In addition to providing dune restoration services for private properties, in 2021, the DSG volunteered to manage and provide materials at cost to a privately donated volunteer-driven dune restoration project at eight publicly owned beach accesses in Fernandina Beach Florida and a similar project in Flagler County, Florida.

Ed is a practicing attorney with 49 years of experience concentrating in real estate, construction, business, and franchise law. He has been an active member of the Massachusetts and Florida bars since 1971. He also served as Special Counsel to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and interned for the Attorney General of Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Boston Latin School, University of Massachusetts, and Suffolk University Law School.