Retired Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet was confirmed by the full Senate the first week of October for the number 2 post at NOAA. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee recommended the confirmation of Gallaudet. Most recently, he served as commander of the Navy’s Meteorology and Oceanography Command.
Gallaudet, 50, of California has a long record of tracking climate change for the Pentagon. The White House said Gallaudet has experience in weather and ocean forecasting, hydrographic surveying and developing policy, and he plans to counter illegal unregulated fishing and assess the national security impacts of climate change.
He noted in written response to questions from Senators that “Another emerging challenge is for those species that are migrating due to changing environmental factors.” He also promised to follow the lead of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in pushing to “increase flexibility” in the management of the nation’s fisheries.
On October 11, President Trump nominated Barry Myers, chief executive of the private weather forecasting company AccuWeather, to run NOAA. The appointment breaks from the recent precedent of scientists leading the agency tasked with a large, complex, and technically demanding portfolio. Myers has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics, a master’s degree in business from Pennsylvania State University, and a law degree from Boston University School of Law. Myers has been an adviser to five directors of NOAA’s National Weather Service and a representative of the U.N. World Meteorological Organization, according to a biography from AccuWeather. He must be confirmed by the Senate before taking the post.