WASHINGTON, DC – Ocean Conservancy led a coalition of 15 environmental non-profit organizations in supporting the nomination of Dr. Rick Spinrad to be the next Undersecretary Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Roger Wicker, the organizations highlighted Dr. Spinrad’s robust scientific expertise and track record of federal leadership, in addition to his intricate knowledge of the agency, having previously held roles as NOAA Chief Scientist and head of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. The letter also emphasizes the need for NOAA to reestablish its reputation as a bastion of scientific integrity and science-based decision-making after four years of lacking a Senate-confirmed Administrator.

“As an internationally recognized scientist, Dr. Spinrad is the right person to lead NOAA,” said Reggie Paros, Director of Government Relations at Ocean Conservancy. “He recognizes the opportunity to bring out the best of NOAA by strengthening the agency’s science mission, reasserting NOAA’s critical roles on climate and marine conservation, and building the NOAA of tomorrow.”

###

Reggie Paros is available for interviews upon request. 

NOTES TO EDITOR

• A copy of the letter is available here.
• The letter was signed by:
  • Ocean Conservancy
  • Center for the Blue Economy, Middlebury Institute
  • Oceana
  • Joint Ocean Commission Initiative
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Earthjustice
  • National Ocean Protection Coalition
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • Inland Ocean Coalition
  • GreenLatinos
  • Healthy Ocean Coalition
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • TAO (Tethra Advisors and Officers) and the Blue Economy and Blue Technology Consultancy
  • MIT Alumni for Climate Action
  • National Parks Conservation Association
  • Environmental Defense Fund

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.