Former NOAA acting Administrator and retired Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet has joined the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s board of trustees, the organization announced Thursday.
Gallaudet, who served in multiple senior roles at NOAA and the Commerce Department under the first Trump administration, brings heft to the foundation’s board as marine sanctuaries face an uncertain future under the second Trump presidency.
“We are honored to welcome Admiral Gallaudet to the board of trustees at a pivotal time for the future of America’s national marine sanctuaries,” said Joel R. Johnson, the foundation’s president and CEO, in a press release. “His deep understanding of how to unite national security, economic growth, and ocean health makes him an invaluable guide as we accelerate public-private partnerships in marine sanctuaries and enterprise-level opportunities nationwide.”
President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has made drastic cuts to NOAA, including to the National Ocean Service that oversees the National Marine Sanctuary System. Trump has also issued executive orders aimed at curbing restrictions in marine protected areas to bolster the nation’s fisheries and fossil energy sectors.
