Unveiling America's Underwater National Parks: National Marine Sanctuaries Explored | American Blue Economy Podcast

June 27, 2023

Dive deep into NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries

On the June episode of the American Blue Economy Podcast, our host Rear Admiral, Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret) dives into NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries, which generate billions of dollars in annual economic impacts from tourism, recreation, conservation, and education. His guests are leaders in the headquarters office of the National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) and include Kate Thompson, Chief of the Communications & Engagement Division, Grace Bottitta-Williamson, National Recreation and Tourism Coordinator, and Dr, Steve Gittings, Science Coordinator. This fun foray into America's underwater national parks will not only teach you that the Earth is Blue, but it will also make you want to Get Into Your Sanctuary!

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.