Dr. Richard Spinrad, Assistant Administrator
NOAA National Ocean Service

Rick Spinrad oversees a diverse portfolio, including nautical charting, marine sanctuaries, and coastal zone management activities. Prior to his appointment to NOAA, he served as Technical Director to the Oceanographer of the Navy, advising the U.S. Navy on operational oceanographic research and operations. Dr. Spinrad first joined the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in 1987 and held a variety of posts, including Director of ONR’s Ocean Biology, Optics and Chemistry Division, and Director of the Ocean, Atmosphere and Space Modeling and Prediction Division. He also served as the first Director of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office before becoming Executive Director of Research and Education for the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education.