Riding the Wave: Surfing, Science, and the American Blue Economy | American Blue Economy Podcast

November 30, 2023

Big Wave Insights: Economy and Ecology

In the month's episodeofthe⁠American Blue Economy Podcast⁠, our host⁠Rear Admiral, Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret) ⁠catchesa wave while discussing the contributions to the American Blue Economy. He is joined bybig wave and professional surfing legend⁠Ian “Kanga” Cairns⁠,instructor in theEnvironmental Sciences Graduate Program at Oregon State University,Dr.⁠Neeraja Havaligi⁠, andowner and lead forecaster for thenearshore wave & weather forecasting company CFOX.surf,⁠Charlie Fox⁠.This diverse group will explore surfingcontests, the travel industry's support to surf destination tourism, surfersas conservationists, and how the science of wave and weather prediction supports professional and amateur surfers all across America. Be sure to drop in to this show if you want to experience an epic ride!

Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Adm. Tim Gallaudet

Rear Admiral Gallaudet, PhD, USN (ret) is the CEO of Ocean STL Consulting. From 2017-2021, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere / Deputy NOAA Administrator, and from 2017-2019 he also served as the Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere / NOAA Administrator. As Acting Administrator, he led the agency comprised of 20,000 federal employees and contractors managing the nation’s fisheries, coastal resources and waterways, weather satellites, weather services, and environmental research, overseeing a $6B annual budget and daily operations of 18 environmental satellites, 16 oceanographic ships, 9 aircraft, 450 boats, and 400 technical divers, 6 supercomputers, over a dozen laboratories, and several hundred field sites across the country. As the Deputy Administrator, he led NOAA’s Blue Economy activities that advance marine transportation, sustainable seafood, ocean exploration and mapping, marine tourism and recreation, and coastal resilience. Prior to NOAA, Rear Admiral Gallaudet served for 32 years in the US Navy, completing his career as the Oceanographer of the Navy. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the US Naval Academy, and Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, all in oceanography.