MEET: John Ewald

I like working for an organization that plays such an enormous role in the life of every American, no matter what part of the country they are from. The work done by NOS's scientists and professionals affects us all, from positioning where our buildings are built to safely delivering goods to store shelves, and making breakthroughs and advancements in human and ocean health.

The hardest part of what I do is translating very technical language and scientific concepts into lay terms so that the media, constituents, and the public can fully grasp the NOS mission. However, I also find this can be one of the most rewarding parts of my job, when I succeed in helping the ocean "make sense" to many different people.

I graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, where I obtained my bachelor's degree in telecommunications with a focus in public relations, industry, and management.

My love for the water began at a small lake near Farmland, Indiana, where my family continues to enjoy a cottage. Being from a landlocked state, I didn't have many opportunities to travel to the coast, so what I appreciate now about healthy oceans is rooted in my experiences swimming in the lake's shallow waters, fishing for bass and bluegill, and sleeping to the sound of croaking frogs.

During college, I had a media relations internship with U.S. Army Public Affairs at the Pentagon. Upon graduation, I returned to the Department of Defense to provide communications support for an initiative that worked to balance the armed services' mission with environmental stewardship. That led to my interest in being a communications specialist for NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, where I helped communicate the value of NOAA's navigation tools to the nation's economy and coastal communities. From there, I moved to my current position, where I communicate to the media and NOAA constituents about all of NOS's programs.

Take advantage of any opportunity to really understand why healthy oceans matter and how they affect all of us — economically, ecologically, and culturally. NOS is a good resource for learning more about our oceans and coasts, as are state and local resources and programs.