Richard Spinrad
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA Administrator
Richard William Spinrad was born in April 1954 in New York City, New York. He earned an undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in oceanography from Oregon State University.
Spinrad worked in the Office of Naval Research and Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. He headed the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and served as the U.S. representative of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission for four years. He was the vice president for research at his alma mater and also taught oceanography there. Spinrad became chief scientist of NOAA.
President Biden nominated Spinrad as Under Secretary of Commerce for Ocean and Atmosphere, a position which also serves as NOAA administrator. The Senate confirmed him to the position in June 2021, and he was sworn into office that month.
In the News…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency within the Department of Commerce, has confirmed the National Fisheries Service is investigating former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for allegedly transporting a dead whale’s head across state lines.
The incident, which occurred at least two decades ago, involved a dead whale washing up on a beach in Massachusetts. The agency began the investigation after the former candidate’s daughter told a story about him removing the head from the carcass and tying it to the top of a minivan.
An NOAA spokesperson refused to comment about the open investigation.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Under Secretary Spinrad today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Richard Spinrad, Under Secretary
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20230
