Meet the U.S. IOOS Program Office staff, learn about their roles and responsibilities, and view the organization chart.

Director's Office

Carl Gouldman, Director (Federal)

Email: carl.gouldman@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9454

Krisa Arzayus, Ph.D., Deputy Director (Federal)

Email: krisa.arzayus@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9455

Laura (Griesbauer) Gewain, Executive Assistant to the Director (ISS)

Email: laura.gewain@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9456

Schuyler Nardelli, Ph.D., IOOS Ocean Science and Technology Partnership Fellow (Sea Grant)

Email: schuyler.nardelli@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9464

Ralph Rayner, U.S. IOOS Industry Liaison (London School of Economics) (Consultant)

Email: ralph@ralphrayner.com

Operations Division

Derrick Snowden, Division Chief (Federal)

Email: derrick.snowden@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9467

Kathleen Bailey, Oceanographer/Physical Scientist (Federal)

Email: kathleen.bailey@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9449

Mathew Biddle, Data Management Analyst (ISS)

Email: mathew.biddle@noaa.gov;  

Gabrielle Canonico, IOOS Biology Lead and MBON Manager (Federal)

Email: gabrielle.canonico@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9452

Tobey Curtis, Ph.D., ATN Network Coordinator (Federal)

Email: tobey.curtis@noaa.gov   Tel: (978) 281-9273

Tracy Fanara, Ph.D., NOS Coastal Modeling Portfolio Manager (Federal)

Email: tracy.fanara@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9461

Hassan Moustahfid, Ph.D., Marine Biologist (Federal)

Email: hassan.moustahfid@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9468

Tiffany C. Vance, Ph.D., Physical Scientist & Data Manager (Federal)

Email: tiffany.c.vance@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9445

Micah Wengren, Physical Scientist & Data Manager (Federal)

Email: micah.wengren@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9441

Brian Zelenke, Surface Currents Program Manager (Federal)

Email: brian.zelenke@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9440

Melissa Zweng, DMAC Program Coordinator (Federal)

Email: melissa.zweng@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9463

Mark Bushnell, QARTOD National Coordinator (ISS) (Consultant)

Email: mark.bushnell@noaa.gov   Tel:(757) 647-0764

Regions, Budget, and Policy Division

Dave Easter, Division Chief (Federal)

Email: dave.easter@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9453

Becky Baltes, Strategic Planning Manager (Federal)

Email: becky.baltes@noaa.gov  Tel: (240) 533-9469

Kate Culpepper, Communications Specialist (Federal)

Email: kate.culpepper@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9457

Becca Derex, Legislative Affairs Lead (Federal)

Email: becca.derex@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9462

Debra Esty, Management and Program Analyst (Federal)

Email: debra.esty@noaa.gov   Tel:(240) 533-9446

Jennifer Hinden, Cooperative Programs Specialist (Federal)

Email: jennifer.hinden@noaa.gov  Tel:

Kelly Jasion, Financial Management Specialist (Federal)

Email: kelly.jasion@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9465

Erick Lee, Financial Management Specialist (Federal)

Email: erick.lee@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9460

Mequela Moreno, Environmental Compliance Coordinator (Federal)

Email: mequela.moreno@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9464

Torie Ketcham, Webmaster (ISS) (Consultant)

Email: torie.ketcham@noaa.gov 

(vacant), Regional Coordinator

Email:    Tel:

(vacant), Office Manager

Email:    Tel:

Staff Duties

Director's Office:

Carl Gouldman, Director (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • NOAA representative to the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC)
  • U.S. Representative to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Regional Alliances Council
  • Chair of the U.S. IOOS GOOS Regional Alliance
  • Congressional visits and legislative engagement

Krisa Arzayus, Ph.D., Deputy Director (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Compliance with NOS guidelines and policies (e.g. safety, awards, IT, personnel)
  • Oversee program office Risk Management
  • Designated Federal Official (DFO) for the IOOS Federal Advisory Committee
  • Pay Pool Manager for the IOOS CAPS Paypool
  • Program Planning and Execution

Laura (Griesbauer) Gewain, Executive Assistant to the Director (ISS)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Director's and Deputy Director's calendars
  • Director and Deputy Director travel
  • Director and Deputy Director correspondence
  • Staff support to the Director for International Activities, GOOS, and AmeriGEOSS
  • Manage IOOS Social Media channels
  • Staff support to Director and Deputy projects
  • Special projects as assigned by the Director and Deputy

Schuyler Nardelli, Ph.D., IOOS Ocean Science and Technology Partnership Fellow (Sea Grant)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Executive secretary for the NOS Water Team
  • Supports IOOS Blue Economy initiatives
  • Project manager for the Benefits of Ocean Observing Catalog (BOOC)
  • Supports the Environmental Information Services Working Group (EISWG)
  • Supports the DOE ocean observing prize
  • Supports data management certification for IOOS Regional Associations
  • Office Lead for data call response and tracking

Ralph Rayner, U.S. IOOS Industry Liaison (London School of Economics) (Consultant)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Project Lead for Benefits of Ocean Observing Catalog (BOOC)
  • Project support for the Ocean Enterprise Study
  • Global Partnerships (connecting IOOS with GeoBlue Planet, Copernicus, IMOS, etc.

Operations Division:

Derrick Snowden, Division Chief (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Lead the Operations Divisions efforts to establish and maintain the national IOOS system
  • Overall lead for DMAC design and implementation activities including regional implementation and national coordination agreements

Kathleen Bailey, Oceanographer/Physical Scientist (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Tracking flow of data through various elements of the DMAC system (Regional Data Assembly Centers, IOOS Catalog, NDBC, CO-OPS)
  • DMAC Implementation and user engagement
  • Lead for the Glider Program
  • IOOS Member of the QARTOD Board of Advisors
  • DMAC lead for Regional Association Certification

Mathew Biddle, Data Management Analyst (ISS)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • IOOS POC for NCEI data archival
  • MBON Portal and biological data and products liaison
  • DMAC project support (ERDDAP, biological data standards)
  • IOOS products and services analytics and outreach

Gabrielle Canonico, IOOS Biology Lead and MBON Manager (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Program Manager for the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON)
  • Coordinating stronger representation of biological observations in IOOS
  • Development of the MBON Portal 
  • USG representative for MBON to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the Group on Earth Observations
  • Co-Chair, NOPP Interagency Biodiversity Working Group

Tobey Curtis, Ph.D., Animal Telemetry Network Coordinator (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Manage the development of the Data Assembly Center (DAC)
  • Coordinate the implementation of the network and grow the network into a sustainable observing system

Tracy Fanara, Ph.D., NOS Coastal Modeling Portfolio Manager (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Program Manager for the IOOS Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed
  • Manage the development of operational coastal models across NOS program offices
  • Stakeholder management for coastal ocean modeling and product development

Hassan Moustahfid, Ph.D., Marine Biologist (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Serve as scientific and technical point of contact for marine biological programs
  • Facilitate partnership building between biological programs in NOS, NOAA, the Regional Associations and the larger IOOS Enterprise

Tiffany C. Vance, Ph.D., Physical Scientist and Data Manager (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • DMAC implementation and architecture
  • Ocean Technology Transition (OTT) Program Manager
  • Functional POC for geospatial, cloud computing, and GIS activities
  • OOS co-lead for biogeochemical, ocean acidification, and HAB related data
  • Project management for IOOS/Axiom activities
  • Transition Manager for the Pacific Northwest HAB Bulletin and IOOS representative to the HAB Tech Team
  • Project manager for the IOOS cloud computing sandbox for ocean models

Micah Wengren, DMAC System Architect (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

Brian Zelenke, Surface Currents Program Manager (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Program and Technical Lead for the US HF Radar network
  • Stakeholder management for coastal circulation observing and product development
  • Point of Contact for Radio Frequency Allocation issues
  • Manage the HF Radar Data Assembly Center
  • Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

Melissa Zweng, DMAC Program Coordinator (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Coordinates Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) planning, budgets, and activities
  • Supports DMAC team in project management, RA certification, stakeholder engagement, and technical coordination

Mark Bushnell, QARTOD National Coordinator (ISS) (Consultant)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • IOOS Point of Contact for Quality Assurance/Quality Control of Real Time Ocean Data (QARTOD)
  • Liaison / Member, IOC Ocean Best Practices System Steering Group
  • Liaison / Member, U.S. CLIVAR Ocean Uncertainty Working Group

Regions, Budget, and Policy Division:

Dave Easter, Division Chief (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • U.S. IOOS implementation and program development
  • IOOS lead for the RICE certification process
  • IOOS business manager

Becky Baltes, Strategic Planning Manager (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Lead IOOS strategic planning
  • Lead IOOS program and process improvement
  • NOS representative to NOAA Observing System Committee

Kate Culpepper, Communications Specialist (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Communications (e.g., press releases, media events, outreach materials)
  • Education & outreach activities
  • Coordination with NOAA Public Affairs, NOS Communications and Education Division, IOOS Association Education and Outreach Council, and external communications contacts

Becca Derex, Legislative Affairs Lead (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Legislative Affairs
  • Budget Formulation Lead
  • Programmatic support to the U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee
  • Supports reporting as required by the ICOOS Act

Debra Esty, Grants and Agreements (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Supports IOOS in budgetary planning and annual operating plans
  • Monitors and provides oversight on all phases of IOOS grant management and cooperative agreements
  • Lead for publication of funding opportunities and compliance with funding competition policies and procedures

Jennifer Hinden, Cooperative Programs Specialist (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Federal Acquisition Certification Contracting Officer Representative
  • Grant management and cooperative agreements
  • Manage Inter-agency Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding

Kelly Jasion, Financial Management Specialist (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Lead for budget execution and financial management
  • Human Resources Liaison, coordinates hiring actions
  • Manages transfers and receipt of funds to other NOAA offices

Erick Lee, Financial Management Specialist (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Administrative lead for the U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee
  • Support budget execution and financial management
  • Lead for property management

Mequela Moreno, Environmental Compliance Coordinator (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Maintain the IOOS Program Environmental Assessment
  • Review IOOS solicitations and request for applications for environmental compliance
  • Review proposed activities consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • Develop and maintain environmental compliance policies and procedures

Torie Ketcham, Webmaster (ISS) (Consultant)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Assist with web site maintenance, issues and updates
  • Collaborate with Communications team to add new site content
  • Ensure functionality and efficiency of site

(Vacant), Regional Coordinator (Federal)

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Lead for Regional Association coordination
  • Monitor and provide technical oversight of Regional Association cooperative agreements
  • Coordinate NOAA to Regional Association engagement
  • IOOS representative to NOS Incident Management Team

(Vacant), Office Manager

Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Information and Federal Records Management
  • IOOS meeting coordination and support
  • Travel Planning
  • IT Coordination
  • Safety and Facilities Management