This week, the U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee is meeting in Washington D.C. to discuss their next set of recommendations with NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad. At the same time, they are preparing to welcome ten new members, and say thank you and farewell to nine who have given six years of service to the committee.

Members serve three year terms and may return for a second term. They provide advice to the NOAA Administrator and to the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) on the planning, integrated design, operation, maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of U.S. IOOS. The nine members who have completed their terms are:

• Scott Rayder, Lynker, Chair
• Sara Graves, Ph.D., University of Alabama in Huntsville, Vice-Chair
• Molly McCammon, AOOS (ret.)
• Ruth Perry, Ph.D., Shell Renewables & Energy Solutions
• Daniel Rudnick, Ph.D., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego
• Oscar Schofield, Ph.D., Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership
• Jyotika Virmani, Ph.D., Schmidt Ocean Institute
• Richard “Dick” West, ADM (ret.), Independent Consultant
• Robert “Bob” Winokur, Independent Consultant

We are grateful for the years of advice, expertise, and diverse points of view they’ve offered in an effort to advance U.S. IOOS. We especially want to recognize the leadership of outgoing chair, Scott Rayder. Under his chairmanship, the committee has developed 51 recommendations. These recommendations cover a broad range of topics including: DEIA, climate, marine life, National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), the IOOS budget, requirements management, and ocean enterprise and new blue economy. NOAA and the IOOS Office value these recommendations and are actively reviewing and incorporating these recommendations into our mission activities.

At the same time, we are pleased to welcome ten new members to the committee, who will join five members returning for their second term. As the advice they provide helps chart the future course of IOOS, it’s critical to maintain representation from diverse viewpoints and from the varied geography of the nation in order to create a robust, responsive, and effective committee. The new IOOS Advisory Committee membership will be:

• Debra Hernandez, SECOORA, chair (New)
• Eric Anderson, Colorado School of Mines (New)
• Sara Bender, The Audacious Project (New)
• Stephanie Bryan, Poarch Band of Creek Indians (New)
• Glen Gawarkiewicz, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (New)
• Monty Graham, Florida Institute of Oceanography (New)
• Barbara Kirkpatrick, GCOOS (New)
• Laura Lilly, Exponent (New)
• Nick Rome, Center for Ocean Leadership (New)
• Steve Woll, Little Creek Applied Science (New)
• Jason Biggs, Guam Department of Agriculture (Returning)
• Daniel Costa, University of California, Santa Cruz (Returning)
• Catherine Edwards, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (Returning)
• Eoin Howlett, Trinnex (Returning)
• Julio Morell, CARICOOS (Returning)

The committee also welcomes Debra Hernandez as the new chair of the U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee. Debra’s extensive experience with the IOOS Enterprise will enable her to hit the ground running, leading the committee through their next term.

New members will be confirmed pending security and background check clearance and begin their terms on September 13, when the departing members will officially conclude theirs. Once confirmed, the new committee will convene for the first time in-person later this year when they’ll set their goals and priorities for the next three year term. Welcome to our new members! We look forward to working with you all.