NOS Vision

A nation with safe, healthy, and productive oceans and coasts

NOS Mission

To provide science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our oceans and coasts.

NOS Assistant Administrator David Kennedy

David M. Kennedy is the Assistant Administrator for NOAA's National Ocean Service. He served in this role in an acting capacity before being named as assistant administrator by Undersecretary of Commerce and NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco. He comes to the Assistant Administrator's office after having served as the Director of NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), in Silver Spring, MD. OCRM leads the nation's efforts to manage and conserve ocean and coastal resources.

As OCRM Director, Mr. Kennedy oversaw OCRM’s Coastal Programs Division, Coral Conservation Division, Marine Protected Areas Center, and the Estuarine Reserves Division. Included in OCRM’s responsibilities are federal consistency, coordination with state and local coastal zone management programs and the National Estuarine Research Reserves System, the new National System of Marine Protected Areas, and the land acquisition grant program, Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP).

Mr. Kennedy previously served as Director of NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration, where he directed a multi-disciplinary program to reduce risks to coastal and marine resources from environmental threats. He has more than 20 years of experience leading hazardous materials management and response efforts, including coordinating federal scientific response to more than 100 oil and chemical spill incidents.

In October 2009, Mr. Kennedy’s leadership, innovation, and vision were recognized with a prestigious Presidential Rank Award. And in November 2009, Mr. Kennedy was recognized in a group award for strong leadership and innovation leading to the completion of the environmental cleanup and historical preservation of the Pribilof Islands.

Mr. Kennedy was a U.S. delegate to the International Maritime Organization’s Conference on Oil Pollution Preparation and Response, chaired the Washington State Legislative Committee on Oil Spill Response, and was a member of the 1990 Program Committee of the National Oil Spill Conference. He founded the Islands Oil Spill Association, a non-profit oil spill response cooperative.