stringtranslate.com

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

The under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, or USC(OA), is a high-ranking official in the United States Department of Commerce and the principal advisor to the United States secretary of commerce on the environmental and scientific activities of the department. The under secretary is dual hatted as the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Commerce Department.

The under secretary is appointed by the president of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate to serve at the pleasure of the president. The current under secretary is Rick Spinrad. He was nominated by Joe Biden on April 22, 2021, confirmed on June 17 and sworn in on June 22, 2021.[1]

Overview

As the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary oversees the day-to-day functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as laying out its strategic and operational future.[2]

Components of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that the Administrator oversees include the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, National Weather Service, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Marine and Aviation Operations, and the NOAA Corps.[2]

With the rank of Under Secretary, the USC(OA) is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule[3] Since January 2023, the annual rate of pay for Level III is $195,000.[4] The Under Secretary ranks fifth in the line of succession for the office of Secretary of Commerce.[5]

History

The position of Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act of 1985. The position was created to serve as the Administrator of NOAA. It also created an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to serve as Deputy Administrator of NOAA.[6] William Evans was the first person to have the title of Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The position of Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was created earlier by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970.[7]

During the Donald Trump administration, the agency never had a confirmed leader. Trump first nominated former AccuWeather CEO Barry Myers to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on Oct 12, 2017. His nomination was returned to President Trump by the Senate on January 3, 2018,[8] resubmitted on January 8, 2018, returned again on January 3, 2019,[9] and resubmitted again on January 16, 2019.[10] In November 2019, Myers withdrew his nomination, citing health concerns.[11] A month later, Trump nominated Neil Jacobs, then the acting administrator, to be the 11th administrator.[12] Though Jacobs had Senate confirmation hearings in May 2020, he was never confirmed, in part because of the so-called Sharpiegate incident.

Reporting officials

Officials reporting to the USC(OA)/Administrator include:

Officeholders

From 1970 to 1988, the head of NOAA was the NOAA Administrator. Starting with Bill Evans in 1988, that person held the title of Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

  Denotes an Acting Administrator of NOAA

References

  1. ^ "Richard W. Spinrad sworn in as NOAA administrator | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  2. ^ a b "NOAA Home Page - Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.) Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator". Retrieved September 24, 2007.
  3. ^ "US CODE: Title 15,1503b. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; duties; appointment; compensation". Retrieved September 24, 2007.
  4. ^ "Salary Table No. 2023-EX". Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  5. ^ "Executive Order on Succession at the Department of Commerce". Retrieved September 24, 2007.
  6. ^ "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act of 1985". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  7. ^ "REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 4 OF 1970". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  8. ^ "PN1099 — Barry Lee Myers — Department of Commerce". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  9. ^ "PN1364 — Barry Lee Myers — Department of Commerce". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  10. ^ "PN68 — Barry Lee Myers — Department of Commerce". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  11. ^ "White House pick to lead NOAA withdraws nomination, citing health concerns". The Washington Post. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  12. ^ Hotakainen, Rob (18 December 2019). "Trump nominates acting NOAA leader to be permanent chief". Science Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Trump Lags Predecessors in Naming Science Agency Leaders". American Institute of Physics. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  14. ^ a b Knauss, John A. (Winter 1989). "Memorandum for all NOAA Staff" (PDF). The National Cooperative Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2018.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ Lawrence, Richard (31 May 1993). "CLINTON EXPECTED TO NAME GARTEN TO COMMERCE POST MANY KEY SLOTS REMAIN UNFILLED". Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  16. ^ a b Miller, David. "CONRAD LAUTENBACHER IS THE NEW NOAA ADMINISTRATOR". Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  17. ^ "TODAY TIDBITS: OCTOBER 29, 2017". Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  18. ^ a b Samenow, Jason (26 February 2019). "NOAA delays launch of 'next generation' weather forecast model and names new acting head". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  19. ^ "Richard W. Spinrad sworn in as NOAA administrator". Retrieved 14 May 2024.