NOAA and the U.S. Navy recently inked a deal to further develop the use of unmanned maritime systems, allowing NOAA to expand its science, service and stewardship mission with the Navy’s expertise, infrastructure, best practices and training.
“With the strengthening of our ongoing partnership with the Navy, NOAA will be better positioned to transition unmanned maritime technologies into operational platforms that will gather critical environmental data that will help grow the American Blue Economy,” said retired Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and deputy NOAA administrator.
NOAA relies on unmanned systems and other advanced technologies to enhance its ongoing research and data-gathering efforts. The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, which is responsible for defining the physical environment from the ocean floor to the stars so that the Navy can defend and maintain freedom on the water, has been a leader in developing and using unmanned systems for more than two decades.
“This agreement lays the foundation for collaboration, engagement, and coordination between NOAA and the U.S. Navy that our nation has never seen before,” said RDML John Okon, Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. “It will help us take advantage of each other’s strengths to advance each of our strategic and operational mission priorities.”
