WASHINGTON – January 18, 2012 — Robert Detrick, Ph.D, a marine geophysicist, was named the new head of NOAA’s research office today. Detrick will start as the assistant administrator of the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) on Feb. 13.
“The person who heads this office guides the innovative and integral research that is the foundation of all we do at NOAA,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “I am especially pleased that we have someone with Dr. Detrick’s experience heading our research efforts.”
In addition to heading OAR, Detrick will also will become the acting chair of the NOAA Research Council, and lead NOAA’s climate goal.
"I'm very excited about joining NOAA", said Detrick, who will leave as the director of the National Science Foundation Division of Earth Sciences to come to NOAA. "A healthy OAR is essential to the 'science' part of NOAA's mission. OAR’s research is critical to understanding changes in our weather, climate, oceans and coasts, and helps society make more scientifically informed decisions on how best to steward the Earth's environment."
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