Rick Spinrad

Born and raised in New York City,{{cite web |title=Senate Commerce Committee Nominee Questionnaire, 117th Congress |url=https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/BE5BD264-DDE5-4D22-93DE-CC28EE4D54B3 |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=11 September 2023 |date=3 May 2021}} Spinrad earned a Bachelor of Arts degree{{cite web |url=https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2/36825/commencement1975.pdf |title=Conferring Of Degrees At The Close Of The Ninety-ninth Academic Year |date=1975-05-23 |pages=17–21 |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University |location=Baltimore, Maryland |access-date=2021-06-18}} in earth and planetary sciences in 1975 from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Science{{cite thesis |url=https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/z029p7875 |title=Experimental and theoretical measurements of the particulate volume scattering function at near forward angles |date=1978 |institution=Oregon State University |degree=M.S. |last=Spinrad |first=Richard William |oclc=9419641}} and a PhD in oceanography in 1978 and 1982, respectively, from Oregon State University at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.{{Cite web|title=Richard Spinrad|url=https://ceoas.oregonstate.edu/people/richard-spinrad|access-date=2021-04-26|website=College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences|language=en}}

Spinrad has held positions in the Office of Naval Research and Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command; for this work, he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award.

From 2003 to 2010, Spinrad was the head of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research within NOAA, and also was the U.S. permanent representative of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission from 2005 to 2009. He was the Vice President for Research at Oregon State University from 2010 to 2014.

Spinrad was chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 2014 to 2016, after which he was a professor of oceanography at Oregon State University.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-22|title=President Biden Announces 12 Key Climate and Infrastructure Administration Nominations|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/22/president-biden-announces-12-key-climate-and-infrastructure-administration-nominations/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=The White House|language=en-US}}

On Earth Day 2021, Spinrad was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, which includes serving as the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Department of Commerce.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-23|title=Oceanography Vet Rick Spinrad Nominated NOAA Administrator|url=https://www.executivegov.com/2021/04/oceanography-vet-rick-spinrad-nominated-noaa-administrator/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Executive Gov|language=en-US}} On June 17, 2021, his nomination was confirmed by voice vote in the United States Senate.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-16|title=PN439 - Nomination of Richard W. Spinrad for Department of Commerce, 117th Congress (2021-2022)|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/439|access-date=2021-06-17|website=www.congress.gov}} He was sworn in by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on June 22, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/richard-w-spinrad-sworn-in-as-noaa-administrator|title=Richard W. Spinrad sworn in as NOAA administrator|last=Smullen|first=Scott |date=June 22, 2021|publisher=NOAA|access-date=June 22, 2021}} He served until the Biden administration left office on January 20, 2025.

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Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Civil servants from New York City

Category:Scientists from New York City

Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni

Category:Oregon State University alumni

Category:American oceanographers

Category:Oregon State University faculty

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel

Category:United States under secretaries of commerce

Category:1954 births

Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award