Leadership and senior advisors

Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D.
Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator

Photo of Jainey K. Bavishi, assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and deputy NOAA administrator.
Jainey K. Bavishi

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator

Michael C. Morgan, Ph.D., is NOAA's assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction.
Michael C. Morgan, Ph.D.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction

Dr. Sarah Kapnick, NOAA's chief scientist.
Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D.

Chief Scientist

Benjamin Friedman.
Benjamin Friedman, J.D.

Deputy Under Secretary for Operations

Karen Hyun.
Karen Hyun, Ph.D.

Chief of Staff

Photo of Walker B. Smith, J.D., General Counsel
Walker B. Smith, J.D.

General Counsel

Susan Ruffo, NOAA’s deputy assistant secretary for International Affairs. 
Susan Ruffo

Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs

headshot of Kelly Kryc
Kelly Kryc, Ph.D.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries

Photo of Makeda Okolo, Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Makeda Okolo

Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

Photo of Lori Arguelles, Director of Communications for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Lori Arguelles

Director of Strategic Communications

Senior advisors

Ko Barrett, NOAA Senior Advisor for Climate
Ko Barrett

Senior Advisor for Climate

Vankita Brown is NOAA's Senior Advisory for Equity.
Vankita Brown, Ph.D.

Senior Advisor for Equity

Jessica Grannis is a NOAA senior advisor, with a focus on implementing NOAA’s Inflation Reduction Act programs.
Jessica Grannis

Senior Advisor

Adena Leibman is a NOAA Senior Advisor.
Adena Leibman, J.D.

Senior Advisor

Eric Locklear is a NOAA senior advisor, with a focus on implementing NOAA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs.
Eric Locklear

Senior Advisor

Dr. Mohleji, Senior Advisor
Shali Mohleji, Ph.D.

Senior Advisor

Zach Penney, NOAA Senior Advisor.
Zach Penney, Ph.D.

Senior Advisor

Photo of Renee Stone
Renee Stone

Senior Advisor

Special advisors

Photo of Lauren Gibson, Ph.D., senior advisor on youth engagement to the NOAA administrator.
Lauren Gibson, Ph.D.

Special Advisor