Director's Office

Jeff Payne, Acting Director (Federal)
Email: jeff.payne@noaa.gov   Tel: (843) 212-6520‬
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Implementation of the ICOOS Act
  • National Ocean Service Coastal Roundtable Rep
  • Congressional visits and legislative engagement

Krisa Arzayus, Ph.D., Deputy Director (Federal)
Email: krisa.arzayus@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9455
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Program planning and execution
  • Compliance with NOS guidelines and policies (e.g., safety, awards, IT, personnel)
  • Program office risk management
  • Designated Federal Official (DFO) for the U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee
  • Federal employee performance management (pay pool manager)

LCDR Aaron Colohan, NOAA Corps, Chief of Staff (Federal)
Email: aaron.d.colohan@noaa.gov   Tel: ‪(251) 207-1020‬
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Project improvements lead
  • IOOS Leadership decision tracking
  • Strategic analysis of policy, planning, and execution

Laura (Griesbauer) Gewain, Executive Assistant to the Director (ISS)
Email: laura.gewain@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9456
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Director's and Deputy Director 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

Amira Ofosu-Garrison, Office Manager (ISS)
Email: amira.ofosu-garrison@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 649-0844
Programmatic Responsibilities:

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

Ralph Rayner, U.S. IOOS Industry Liaison (London School of Economics) (Consultant)
Email: ralph@ralphrayner.com
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

Operations Division, Data and Products Branch

Becky Baltes, Branch Chief (Federal)
Email: becky.baltes@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9469
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Provide oversight and management of the Data and Products Branch
  • Oversee Marine Life and Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure programs which plan and manage projects to collect and disseminate physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic data
  • Lead IOOS office strategic planning, and program and process improvement
  • NOS representative to NOAA Observing System Committee

Mathew Biddle, Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) Community Manager (Federal)
Email: mathew.biddle@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9470
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • IOOS POC for NCEI data archival
  • Marine Life DMAC lead
  • IOOS representative to the NOAA NOS Data Governance Board
  • Chair of the ERDDAP Strategic Insight Group
  • Manage DMAC Community of Practice including regional data manager engagement, organizing annual meetings/code sprints, and technology/communication platforms including IOOS GitHub, ioos_tech forum, Google Summer of Code, and Slack workspace
  • Promote and communicate IOOS data products and services through management of the IOOS CodeLab

Laura Brenskelle, Ph.D., Data Management and Product Developer (ISS)
Email: laura.brenskelle@noaa.gov   Tel: (828) 419-1121
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Data standardization for biological observing methods
  • Engagement with the Regional Associations, Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), and Animal Telemetry Network (ATN) communities
  • DMAC project support

Gabrielle Canonico, Marine Life Program Manager (Federal)
Email: gabrielle.canonico@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9452
Programmatic Responsibilities:

Hassan Moustahfid, Ph.D., Senior Marine Biologist (Federal)
Email: hassan.moustahfid@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9468
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Scientific and technical liaison for marine biological and ecosystem programs
  • Building partnerships between biological and ecosystem programs in IOOS Enterprise and with international partners
  • Advance and promote emerging technologies (including Artificial Intelligence, biomolecular and advanced acoustic technologies)

Micah Wengren, Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) System Architect (Federal)
Email: micah.wengren@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9441
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Manage the IOOS Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure Program and DMAC Community of Practice: regional data manager engagement, annual meetings/code sprints, and technology/communication platforms including IOOS GitHub, ioos_tech forum, Google Summer of Code, and Slack workspace
  • Manage National-scale DMAC cloud cyberinfrastructure and data management implementation with support from IOOS’ partners
  • Functional POC for cloud computing, cloud data management, and geospatial/GIS activities
  • NOAA Data Governance Committee workgroup representative: NOAA Catalog, NOAA Enterprise Metadata, and Open Geospatial Consortium

Operations Division, Observation and Prediction Branch

Kathleen Bailey, Branch Chief (Federal)
Email: kathleen.bailey@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9449
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Supervision and oversight of the Observation and Prediction Branch
  • Oversee programs that plan, manage, collect and disseminate oceanographic observations, and programs that develop ocean predictions using numerical circulation models
  • Provide leadership and support to ensure user needs are met with ocean observation and modeling products
  • Oversight of the IOOS partnership with the National Data Buoy Center, and the IOOS-NDBC Service Level Agreement
  • Project point of contact for IOOS gliders, regional water level observing, and moorings

Zack Baize, Ocean Enterprise Program Manager (Federal)
Email: zack.baize@noaa.gov
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Support NOS New Blue Economy activities
  • Program Manager for Ocean Enterprise Accelerators
  • Support NOAA environmental economics activities and ocean enterprise studies

Ryan Jones, Ph.D., Program Analyst supporting the Ocean Enterprise Program (ISS)
Email: ryan.n.jones@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 624-0717
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Assists coordination of NOAA Ocean Enterprise Team activities
  • Supports NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerator program
  • Supports NOAA Ocean Enterprise Study
  • Provides logistical support for the Benefits of Ocean Observing Catalogue (BOOC)

Michael Lalime, NOS Coastal Cloud Sandbox Project Manager (ISS)
Email: michael.lalime@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 964-1232
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Supports IOOS coastal modeling cloud sandbox development and testing
  • Stakeholder outreach planning and engagement for coastal ocean modeling
  • Project management support for IOOS modeling projects

Emily Landeen, Observing System Coordination Support (ISS)
Email: emily.landeen@noaa.gov   Tel: (‪301) 327-0142‬
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Point of contact for IOOS hurricane glider collaboration
  • Supports IOOS’ hurricane glider coordination efforts, including monitoring glider data flow and tracking metrics
  • Provides technical input for environmental compliance on award activities, including advising on environmental impacts

Sarina Mann, Physical Scientist & Project Management Support (ISS)
Email: sarina.mann@noaa.gov   Tel: (301) 569-2089
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Provide project management support for the DMAC portfolio including:
    • HFRNet migration to the NESDIS Common Cloud Framework
    • IOOS Catalog
    • IOOS Glider DAC
    • QARTOD

Tiffany C. Vance, Ph.D., Ocean Technology Transition, HABs and Cloud Sandbox Programs/Projects Manager (Federal)
Email: tiffany.c.vance@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9445
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Ocean Technology Transition (OTT) Program Manager
  • Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Program Manager
  • Transition Manager for the Pacific Northwest HAB Bulletin and IOOS representative to the HAB Tech Team and the Ecosystem Forecasting Roadmap Tech Team
  • Federal Lead for the IOOS cloud computing sandbox for ocean models
  • Functional POC for geospatial, cloud computing, and GIS activities
  • IOOS co-lead for biogeochemical, ocean acidification, and HAB related data
  • DMAC Project Manager Environmental Sensor Map
  • DMAC implementation and architecture

Breanna Vanderplow, Ph.D., Ocean Prediction Coordinator (ISS)
Email: breanna.vanderplow@noaa.gov   Tel: (410) 541-6446
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Liaison to support modeling efforts of the Regional Associations including service delivery and requirements management
  • Facilitate community modeling and use of a cloud modeling platform to improve model code transitions
  • Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed Program support
  • NOS Modeling Portfolio support in managing products for data acquisition of coastal model forcings, visualization and dissemination of model output, task management, and organization of open source code repositories
  • Hurricane Glider support through tracking and reporting storms and glider-model data comparisons
  • Assist in managing technical issues and new layer implementations into the IOOS Model Viewer
  • Water level and waves project liaison facilitating data flow to models through the National Data Buoy Center

Brian Zelenke, Surface Currents Program Manager (Federal)
Email: brian.zelenke@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9440
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Program and Technical Lead for the U.S. 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)

Regions, Budget, and Policy Division

Dave Easter, Division Chief (Federal)
Email: dave.easter@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9453
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • U.S. IOOS implementation and program development
  • IOOS Regional Coordination
  • IOOS business manager

Kate Culpepper, Communications Specialist (Federal)
Email: kate.culpepper@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9457
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)
Email: becca.derex@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9462
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Legislative Affairs Lead
  • Budget Formulation Lead
  • Planning and Performance Management
  • Requirements management
  • Supports reporting as required by the ICOOS Act

Courtney Edwards, Regional Coordination and Advisory Committee Support (ISS)
Email: courtney.edwards@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 936-5742
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Regional Association project coordination and tracking
  • Support U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee
  • Support administration of IOOS cooperative agreements and RCOS certification

Alejandra Enriquez, Environmental Compliance Program Analyst (ISS)
Email: alejandra.enriquez@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 936-5840
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Supporting the administration of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law cooperative agreements
  • Coordinating efforts and fostering relationships with the IOOS Regions, IOOS Association, interagency partners
  • Assisting with coordination of observing system assets with partners
  • Environmental compliance support

Susan Fox, Regional Coordinator (Federal)
Email: susan.fox@noaa.gov   Tel: (843) 481-0288
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Lead for Regional Association coordination for GCOOS, GLOS, NANOOS, PacIOOS, and SECOORA
  • Monitor and provide technical oversight of Regional Association cooperative agreements
  • Coordinate NOAA to Regional Association engagement

Justin Franks, Webmaster (ISS) (Consultant)
Email: justin.franks@noaa.gov
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

Rosa González, Environmental Compliance Coordinator (Federal)
Email: rosa.gonzalez@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 621-1911
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Coordinates with staff environmental compliance reviews for IOOS authorized, funded, and conducted activities

Rhyan Grech, Program Analyst for Regional Coordination (ISS)
Email: rhyan.grech@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 639-8656
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Regional Association project coordination and tracking
  • Support NOAA to Regional Association engagement
  • Support communications

Maria Murray, Regional Coordinator (Federal)
Email: maria.murray@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 936-6114
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Lead for Regional Association coordination for AOOS, CARICOOS, CeNCOOS, MARACOOS, NERACOOS, SCCOOS
  • Monitor and provide technical oversight of Regional Association cooperative agreements
  • Coordinate NOAA to Regional Association engagement

Mary Solokas, Program Management Support (ISS)
Email: mary.solokas@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 964-1193
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Supports IOOS program and process improvement
  • Supports IOOS office strategic planning, including implementation and metrics and milestone tracking
  • Supports the Hurricane Glider Program, monitoring Navy glider data flow and tracking glider metrics
  • Office co-lead for data call response and tracking

RB&P, Business Branch

Kelly White, Business Branch Chief (Federal)
Email: kelly.white@noaa.gov   Tel: (240) 533-9465
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

Jennifer Hinden, Grants and Contracts Manager (Federal)
Email: jennifer.hinden@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 936-5991
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Federal Acquisition Certification Contracting Officer Representative
  • Grant management and cooperative agreements
  • Trusted Agent

Charmaine Jones, Financial Management Specialist (Federal)
Email: charmaine.jones@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 936-5387
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Budget execution and financial management
  • Lead for transfers and receipt of funds to and from other NOAA offices
  • Travel budget approver

Harvey Kincaid, Grants Management Specialist (Federal)
Email: harvey.kincaid@noaa.gov   Tel: (202) 936-6085
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Grant management and cooperative agreements

Izella Murry, Program Analyst (ISS)
Email: izella.murry@noaa.gov   Tel: (305) 699-5124
Programmatic Responsibilities:

  • Grant management and cooperative agreement administrative support
  • Support office evaluation activities