 The commission was charged with investigating the causes of the explosion and oil spill and recommending changes to prevent future disasters.She served on the boards of the Alaska Nature Conservancy, the CIRI Foundation, Commonwealth North, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and she currently chairs the global board of The Nature Conservancy (2019-present).In July 2014, Ulmer was appointed a special advisor to John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, on arctic issues.