National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has appointed Kristen Koch as science and research director of its Southwest Fisheries Science Center to oversee marine resources work in California.
Effective 18 March, Ms Koch will continue the work of planning, developing and managing a multidisciplinary programme of basic and applied research on the living marine resources in the California Current and in freshwater ecosystems of California. She will also oversee several international research programs, including the U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program and research conducted in the eastern tropical Pacific and throughout the broader Pacific.
Going forward
“I am delighted that Kristen was selected as the new Southwest Center Director,” said Dr Cisco Werner, chief science advisor for NOAA Fisheries. “Her mix of skills and experiences will continue the Center’s strong focus on recognizing, researching, and mitigating the impacts of changing ocean conditions on marine resources, the marine and freshwater environments, and all of the people and communities that depend on robust, sustainable marine fisheries now and into the future.”
Ms. Koch has held various positions with NOAA for nearly two decades. Prior to being named director of the Southwest Center, she served as the deputy science and research director of the centre for eight years, with three stints during this time as acting director. Prior to that, Ms Koch held positions in NOAA headquarters, most recently as the NOAA Ecosystems Goal Team deputy director.
