NOAA's National Ocean Service is composed of eight program and two staff offices. Summary program information for each of these organizational units is provided through the links below. Moving your cursor over a link to an office will cause one or more icons, each representing a topic of primary responsibility for NOS, to appear in the space to the right. Clicking on an icon will take you to an overview of that topic.

NOAA's National Ocean Service Headquarters

Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Oceans and Coasts

Program Offices | Staff Offices

Program Offices

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS)
Mike Szabados, Director

The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services collects and distributes oceanographic observations and predictions to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally sound maritime commerce... (more)

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
Gary Matlock, Acting Director

The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) conduct and support research, monitoring, assessment, and technical assistance for managing coastal ecosystems and society's use of them... (more)

National Geodetic Survey (NGS)
Charlie Challstrom, Director

Geodesy is the science of determining the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points upon its surface... (more)

National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP)
Daniel Basta, Director

The National Marine Sanctuary Program protects and manages 13 U.S. sanctuaries encompassing over 18,000 square miles... (more)

NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC)
Margaret Davidson, Director

The NOAA Coastal Services Center provides skills and information resources to state and local coastal resource managers... (more)

Office of Coast Survey (OCS)
Captain Roger L. Parsons, Director

The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) is the nation's nautical chart maker... (more)

Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM)
Eldon Hout, Director

The Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) is responsible for implementing the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972... (more)

Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R)
David Kennedy, Director

The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) works to prevent and mitigate harm to coastal resources... (more)


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Staff Offices

International Program Office (IPO)
Charles (Bud) Ehler, Director

The International Program Office (IPO) provides a single focal point for international activities of NOAA's National Ocean Service... (more)

Management and Budget Office (MBO)
Alan Neuschatz, Director

The Management and Budget Office serves as the focal point for all NOS management and budget activities... (more)

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