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Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-2458
About the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D., CMarSci
Dr. Spinrad is the Assistant Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). He is a native of New York City, and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University (B.A.). Spinrad has broad experience in marine science, technology, operations and policy. During his career he has worked in a wide range of positions in government, academia, industry and non-governmental organizations.
Spinrad earned an M.S. in physical oceanography and a Ph.D. in marine geology from Oregon State University. As a research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences he developed and published concepts critical to our understanding of the relationship between water clarity and marine biological productivity. Spinrad served as President of Sea Tech, Incorporated during that company’s development of several now-standard oceanographic sensors. He went on to manage oceanographic research at the Office of Naval Research (including serving as the Navy’s first manager of its ocean optics program), eventually becoming the Division Director for all of the Navy’s basic and applied research in ocean, atmosphere and space modeling and prediction. In 1994 he became the Executive Director of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) where he led the development of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl for High School Students, and he co-authored, with Admiral James D. Watkins, "Oceans 2000: Bridging the Millennia", which served as the guiding document for the establishment of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP). In 1999 Spinrad became the Technical Director to the Oceanographer of the Navy. In this position he provided leadership and guidance for the development of the U.S. Navy’s oceanographic and meteorological operational support to Naval forces. Spinrad has served as the United States permanent representative to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, and co-chairs the White House Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, where he helped lead the publication of our nation's first Ocean Research Priorities Plan.
Spinrad is the President of The Oceanography Society, a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, and of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, and was Editor in Chief of Oceanography magazine. Spinrad also served on the faculties of the U.S. Naval Academy and George Mason University. He has spent over 300 days at sea conducting research, and has published more than 50 scientific articles. Spinrad is the editor of a textbook on ocean optics and several special issues of marine science journals.
In 2003 Spinrad was awarded the Department of Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest civilian award given by the Navy Department, and he has received a Presidential Rank Award. Spinrad lives in Falls Church, Virginia with his wife Alanna and two beagles.
