Hi all,

I want to take this opportunity to share that two of our IOOS Office leaders will be stepping away from NOAA this week. Derrick Snowden and I are both departing.

It’s been my honor and privilege to serve U.S. IOOS for 25 years. I was the first National Ocean Service employee working to establish IOOS in 2004, and I’ve been a part of building that system from a good idea to the essential, decision-supporting, and sustainable observing network that it is today.

Derrick has been in NOAA for 27 years and has worked in NOAA Research and the National Ocean Service. He is known for working across line offices to develop innovative data management, modeling, and observing technology solutions through partnerships and cooperative development projects. Derrick joined the IOOS Office in 2010 coming to us from the office now known as the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observations program.  

Both Derrick and I have enjoyed a rich set of partnerships (and friendships) to advance NOAA’s mission using data driven decision support tools and information. We have accomplished a great deal in the past couple of decades, and we are so glad to have been a part of it. It’s not always easy to see how much we’ve accomplished, but as we prepare to sunset our federal careers at NOAA, we are reminded of how hard we’ve all been working to get where we are. In the last decade alone, we’ve

• Successfully transitioned nine ocean forecasting innovations into NOAA including two major new regional operational forecast systems — the West Coast Operational Forecast System (WCOFS) and the Salish Sea Columbia River Operational Forecast System (SSCOFS). These systems are critical components of NOS's long-term modeling strategy, which aims to enhance forecast reliability and provide coastal communities with accurate predictions of ocean conditions.
• Developed and operated a national Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure system that makes over 36,000 data sets open, discoverable, and accessible to scientists, product developers, and decision makers across public, private, and non-profit sectors.
• Deployed the National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network (NHABON), in partnership with National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. The network started with $1M across five funded projects in 2020, and is now a $3.5M system consisting of nine projects that integrate ocean observing assets and research efforts across NOAA, and which involves all eleven IOOS Regional Associations.
• Developed the Hurricane Glider initiative — a collaboration between NOAA, the U.S. Navy, academia, and private industry — to improve the accuracy of hurricane intensity forecasts. The program has seen a 60% increase in Atlantic hurricane season glider missions since 2018, with over 500 glider missions revealing ocean features beneath the surface that are known to influence a storm’s strength. It is a cost-effective program that leverages data-driven solutions to serve emergency preparedness efforts and minimize risks to life and property during hurricane events.
• Established an Ocean Enterprise initiative at NOAA and in partnership with the Marine Technology Society. We have focused on understanding, partnering with, and supporting private-sector businesses that work toward collection, analysis, and dissemination of ocean and coastal-derived data and information; information that underpins the health of the Blue Economy. Under this umbrella, we have:
  • Conducted and released two comprehensive studies on Ocean Enterprise businesses, with a third study underway now. The studies have shown that the number of companies increased from 500 to 800 between 2015 and 2020, with revenues rising from $7 billion to $8 billion. This research provides valuable insights into the size, structure, and trends of the commercial enterprise that deliver ocean data and information services, serving both national and global needs.
  • Launched the Ocean Enterprise Accelerator program to nurture innovation within the Blue Economy. This first-ever accelerator program in NOAA supports businesses in scaling up technologies that address critical issues and provide valuable services supporting major U.S. economic sectors such as ocean-based renewable energy, coastal resilience, shipping, seafood safety, and ecosystem services.

As part of this transition, I’m pleased to share that Jeff Payne, Director of the Office for Coastal Management, will be stepping in to lead IOOS in the interim, alongside longtime U.S. IOOS Deputy Director Krisa Arzayus. Derrick and I wish them both the best with the future of the program, and we look forward to seeing new IOOS progress for years to come.

Best Wishes,

Carl