President Barack Obama has approved the promotion of Shepard Smith, from captain to rear admiral (lower half), a prerequisite for Smith to become director of NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, after his selection by Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.
Smith's appointment to director will be effective on August 26, 2016.
Smith will oversee NOAA's charts and hydrographic surveys, ushering in the next generation of navigational products and services for mariners who need integrated delivery of coastal intelligence data.
"NOAA's navigational services provide critical support to our nation's maritime system," said Russell Callender, NOAA assistant administrator for the National Ocean Service, in announcing Smith's appointment. "Rear Adm. [select] Smith has the experience, knowledge, and leadership skills to lead the transformation of navigational intelligence into the integrated data delivery platform required for the next generation of navigational services."
Smith has served with NOAA for 23 years, during which time he has been deeply involved in advancing the state-of-the-art in hydrography and nautical cartography. His 11 years as a field hydrographer continue to this day, as he currently serves as the commanding officer of NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. He previously served as the chief of Coast Survey's Marine Chart Division, managing the privatization of paper chart printing and distribution.
In addition to his three tours on Thomas Jefferson (twice as her commanding officer), Smith also served on NOAA Ship Rainier, surveying in Alaska, and as the officer-in-charge of the Research Vessel Bay Hydrographer. He served on the interagency response teams for the search and recovery of TWA flight 800, EgyptAir flight 990, and the private plane piloted by John F. Kennedy, Jr. He commanded Thomas Jefferson during her six weeks response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Smith attended Deep Springs College and Cornell University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1993. He earned a Master's of Science in Ocean Engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 2003.
