Oceanology International 2028 Exhibitor List

Dr. Rick Spinrad is the United States Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean and coasts; share that knowledge and information with others; and conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. Dr. Spinrad is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of NOAA and its 12,000 employees, including developing NOAA’s portfolio of products and services to address the climate crisis, enhancing environmental sustainability and fostering economic development, and increasing equity both within NOAA and in its service delivery to communities. Dr. Spinrad has served NOAA in other capacities, including as NOAA’s Chief Scientist under President Barack Obama from 2014 until 2016. He also led NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Ocean Service from 2003-2010. During this time, Dr. Spinrad co-led the White House Committee that developed the nation’s first set of ocean research priorities and oversaw the revamping of NOAA’s research enterprise, including the development of the agency’s Scientific Integrity policy. In addition to his leadership roles at NOAA, Dr. Spinrad has served as a Professor of Oceanography and Senior Adviser to the Vice President of Research at Oregon State University (OSU) and Vice President for Research at OSU from 2010-2014. Dr. Spinrad also held leadership positions at the U.S. Office of Naval Research and Oceanographer of the Navy, where he was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Award — the highest award given by the U.S. Navy to a civilian. He has held faculty appointments at OSU, the U.S. Naval Academy, and George Mason University; served as Executive Director at the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education; was President of Sea Tech, Inc.; and worked as a research scientist at OSU and the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. He also developed the National Ocean Sciences Bowl for high school students. In the international arena, Dr. Spinrad served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission from 2005-2009.

Former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, founder and chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG).

President at SUT

Prior to joining the Schmidt Ocean Institute, Dr. Virmani was the Executive Director of Planet & Environment at XPRIZE and the Rainforest XPRIZE, a