Alan Leonardi

Experience

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  University of Maryland - College Park

  Oct 2000 - Oct 2003

  Research Associate

  Interannual and interdecadal variability studies using observational and model data sets; Global climate change implications; Coupled ocean-­‐‑land-­‐‑atmosphere interactions; Ocean general circulation modeling; Statistical and dynamical analyses of atmospheric and oceanic data; High performance computing.

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  JHT, Inc.

  Oct 2003 - Dec 2004

  Program Analyst for NOAA National Ocean Service

  Serve as Program Coordinator for NOAA’s Environmental Modeling Program and execute activities in support of NOS operations and the NOS Chief Scientist; coordinating responses from NOAA Line Offices to requests for information; and maintaining communication and cooperation between NOAA Line Offices and outside interested parties.

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  NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

  Dec 2004 - Jul 2010

  Provide leadership, counsel and support to NOAA and OAR organizations on the direction, status, plans, and value of NOAA research in meeting NOAA’s mission, including research planning and evaluation, scientific policy development, executive decision support, and management of the transition of research to applications. Provide Program leadership and cross-­‐‑NOAA coordination to continuously ensure program goals are being met; support NOAA Strategic Planning efforts through interactions with NOAA stakeholders and employees; support NOAA Budget planning and execution activities; monitor, evaluate and report annual program performance; and represent program as requested to higher management authorities (e.g., Congress, Department of Commerce, etc.) Serving as Deputy Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (PPE) within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), provide scientific support to OAR senior leadership; represent OAR in NOAA’s strategic planning efforts; maintain and enhance laboratory liaison functions at the OAR headquarters level; and manage activities of PPE. Provide science planning, science administration, and strategic planning support for atmospheric, oceanic, and air quality research within the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; coordinate science programs across multiple agencies and scientific subject areas; aid in the transition of scientific research to operations; assist in the management of overarching government weather research programs; and serve as liaison to government laboratories and field facilities.

  • (Acting) Director of Policy, Planning and Evaluation

    Jan 2010 - Jul 2010

  • Environmental Modeling Program Manager

    Jan 2008 - Jan 2010

  • Deputy Director of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation

    Oct 2007 - Jan 2010

  • Lead Meteorologist

    Dec 2004 - Sept 2007
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  Google

  Nov 2008 - Nov 2018

  NOAA-Google Liaison

  Serve as Principal Investigator on NOAA-­‐‑Google Cooperative Research and Development Agreement and as liaison between Google and the international oceanographic community, with a goal of collecting oceanographic dataset and making them more accessible to both the scientific community and the general public to help improve knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s oceans.

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  Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

  Aug 2010 - Oct 2014

  Deputy Director

  Responsible for overall management and execution of basic and applied ocean, coastal, meteorological and climate research to improve prediction and forecasting of severe storms, better utilization and management of marine resources, better factors controlling climate and affecting environmental quality, and improved ocean and weather services for the nation.

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  Northern Gulf Institute

  Aug 2010 - Sept 2014

  Member, Executive Council

  Provide leadership in the establishment of broad policy and program direction for the Northern Gulf Institute (NGI), a NOAA Cooperative Institute that develops, operates, and maintains an increasingly integrated research and transition program focused on filling priority gaps and reducing limitations in current Northern Gulf of Mexico awareness, understanding and decision support.

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  James Madison University

  Nov 2010 - Nov 2012

  Graduate Adjunct Faculty

  Serve as adjunct graduate faculty member within the Department of Integrated Science and Technology. Responsibilities include teaching graduate level courses; serving on comprehensive assessment, thesis and dissertation committees; and supervising practica and internships.

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  Miami Dade College

  May 2011 - Sept 2014

  Adjunct Faculty

  Serve as adjunct undergraduate faculty member within the Department of Natural Sciences. Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate level courses and serving as an undergraduate mentor.

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  Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology

  Jul 2011 - Apr 2012

  Chair, SOST DWH Science Workshop Planning Committee

  Under the auspices of the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (NSTC SOST), serve as chair of interagency committee responsible for planning, convening, and finalizing a report for a workshop held in October 2011 that brought together scientific investigators from academia, private research institutes, and federal agencies actively involved in research, sampling, and monitoring activities in response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill.

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  Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA)

  Jul 2011 - Sept 2014

  Affiliate Member

  Serve as Affiliate Member of the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing System Regional Association (SECOORA) and as member of the SECOORA Science Committee charged with defining the coastal ocean scientific issues facing the SECOORA region, developing a plan to meet SECOORA region science and observing goals, and providing oversight for instrumentation and observation assets in the SECOORA region.

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  Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference

  Jun 2012 - Sept 2013

  Member, Executive Subcommittee

  Serve on Executive Subcommittee, consisting of individuals representing the Conference sponsors, responsible for the organization and planning of the inaugural Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference, a conference intended to provide a forum for the research community in the Gulf of Mexico to share their latest scientific results with state and federal agencies and other stakeholders to initiate dialogue about how research will impact processes for policy, conservation, and management; and enhance public understanding of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Show less

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  Broward College

  Aug 2014 - Dec 2017

  Adjunct Undergraduate Faculty

  Serve as adjunct undergraduate faculty member within Broward College Online. Responsibilities include teaching online undergraduate level courses.

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  NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

  Oct 2014 - May 2021

  Director

  The Director of the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) provides programmatic direction for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the field of ocean exploration, research, and advanced technology development and provides advice to the NOAA Assistant Administrator for Research and the Under Secretary.OER combines the historic agency missions of undersea exploration and advanced undersea research and technology development and leads other federal agencies through this national program to discover and research novel aspects of the oceans, Great Lakes, and unexplored or little known regions of the sea. OER serves the strategic scientific and technical needs of the agency by directly conducting and directing exploration, research and field operations with dedicated operational assets. OER also funds and supports peer-reviewed research projects through national competitions and through extramural cooperative institutes. OER leads agency efforts in targeted education and outreach to translate, communicate, and disseminate the products and discoveries from exploration, research, and advanced technology in order to increase public awareness and literacy in ocean science. OER ensures the provision of public data streams from exploration and discovery missions and translates these into information products and services available to the public. Show less

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  XPRIZE

  Nov 2015 - Jun 2019

  Member, Scientific Advisory Board

  Serves as an advisory for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, providing expert advice on geophysics, oceanography, engineering, seafloor mapping, underwater vehicles, and ocean business and advising XPRIZE on the scientific and technical details of the competition.

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  Consortium for Ocean Leadership

  May 2021 - Jul 2022

  President and CEO

  Provided strategic direction and management oversight for a consortium of the leading ocean science and technology institutions from academia, aquaria, and industry focused on advancing ocean research, innovation, education, and sound policy.

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  Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc

  Sept 2022 - now

  Serve as Vice President of Operations and Chief Scientist for service-disabled, veteran-owned, small business. Lead all ocean science, research, and technology contract activities with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and support company growth and development in ocean and ocean-related science and technology. Director of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Office providing program management, leadership, and delivery of all services in support of U.S. government agency efforts to promote the national goals of assuring national security, advancing economic development, protecting quality of life, ensuring environmental stewardship, and strengthening science education and communication through improved knowledge of the ocean.

  • Vice President of Operations and Chief Scientist

    Nov 2023 - now

  • Director, NOPP Office

    Sept 2022 - now