An Important Announcement from the GCOOS Board of Directors |
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Today, the Board of Directors of the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) is announcing the upcoming retirement of its Executive Director, Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, and the national search we’re undertaking for the organization’s next leader. |
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Dr. Kirkpatrick, who has served as Executive Director of GCOOS since 2014, has been instrumental in raising the profile of the observing system nationally, bringing new assets to the Gulf of Mexico, broadening the scope of the organization to include biological aspects of ocean monitoring, and in advancing the regional association’s organizational foundation and partnerships.
During Barb’s extraordinary tenure at GCOOS, we created the organization’s first Strategic Plan and began using it as our guiding framework. GCOOS also led the way nationally in implementing stronger data security protocols and standards, ensuring that the organization was providing accurate and timely data to its users, and expanding the products it delivered to a wider range of audiences. Some of Barb’s key accomplishments include:
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Leading the effort for GCOOS is become a Regional Information Coordination Entity (RICE) through the U.S. IOOS Program Office. Certification means that GCOOS has implemented specific practices in regards to data collection, governance and management and that data undergoes a strict QC process so it can be deemed reliable by all users.
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Leading the submission of the next grant application to the U.S. IOOS Program Office. This five-year, $30 million proposal involves numerous partners from across the Gulf states.
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Taking an active role in the U.S. and Gulf glider community efforts, serving on the steering committee for two U.S. glider workshops and supporting the creation of a formal Glider User Group (UG2).
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Supporting the development of GANDALF, a dashboard for piloting and tracking autonomous vehicles. This tool initially focused solely on missions in the Gulf of Mexico, but its ease of use and visual tracking capabilities have made it a favorite for glider operators across the U.S., including along the East Coast and even in Alaska.
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Development of the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast, a beach-level forecast predicting red tide impacts designed to protect public health and lessen economic impacts on coastal businesses initially deployed in Florida but expanding to other Gulf states, including Texas;
As part of the national IOOS Association “fill the gaps” campaign, GCOOS also received funding to expand the number of observing assets in the Gulf, including two new high-frequency radar stations at the mouth of the Mississippi River — which are providing critical information on ocean currents for safer ship navigation. Another key aspect of Barb’s tenure were the new and stronger partnerships she developed with other Gulf-focused organizations, including the National Academies Gulf Research Program and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, as well as partnerships with the private sector, including Fugro USA, Shell and others.
The GCOOS Board of Directors is now undertaking a national search for its next leader to build on the momentum established during Barb’s tenure and guide the organization forward, and hopes to draw new leadership from one of the five Gulf states. Barb will continue to be involved in GCOOS, leading ongoing projects related to harmful algal blooms supported through federal grants, and in ensuring a smooth transition to its next leader. She has not yet set a retirement date.
The Board is currently developing the position advertisement and will share it widely through the GCOOS network.
In the meantime, please join me in thanking Barb for her leadership and in wishing her well in her next adventure!
Joe Swaykos
Chairman
GCOOS Board of Directors
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GCOOS is the Gulf of Mexico regional component of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and the only certified system dedicated solely to the Gulf of Mexico. Our mission is to provide timely, reliable and accurate information on the open ocean and coastal ocean waters of the Gulf of Mexico to ensure a healthy, clean, productive ocean and resilient coastal zone. |
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Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, Executive Director • Bill Lingsch, U.S. Glider User Group Coordinator • Dr. Chris Simoniello, Outreach & Education Coordinator • Felimon Gayanilo, Interim DMAC Co-Manager & Systems Architect • Dr. Shinichi Kobara, Assistant Research Scientist, Product Developer • Bob Currier, Interim DMAC Co-Manager, Research Specialist & Product Developer • Marion Stoessel, Senior Research Associate • Dr. Steven Baum, Associate Research Scientist • Jennifer Vreeland-Dawson, Research Associate • Grant Craig, Program Coordinator • Nadine Slimak, Public Relations & Content Marketing, Vetted Communications, LLC • Dr. Chuan-Yuan Hsu, Post Doctoral Research Associate • Robbie Iles, Graduate Research Assistant • Laura Caldwell, Program Assistant
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In Memoriam: Matt Howard, 1952-2018
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