National Ocean Research
Leadership Council (NORLC)
The oversight body for NOPP is the National Ocean Research Leadership Council (NORLC). The NORLC consists of the heads of those federal agencies involved in conducting or funding ocean research and education and/or developing ocean-related policy. The NORLC has the responsibility to establish NOPP policies and implement procedures, including selection of projects, allocation of funds, and establishment of an Advisory Panel, topical Working Groups, and a Program Office. The NORLC reports the activities of NOPP annually to the Congress. For more information on the NORLC's functions, refer to the NORLC Terms of Reference.
Membership
The legislation that created NOPP called for the following membership of NORLC. Current position holders are listed:
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Chair) --
Dr. Jane Lubchenco
Director of the National Science Foundation (Vice-Chair) -- Dr. Arden Bement, Jr.
Secretary of the Navy (Vice-Chair) -- Mr. Ray Mabus
Director of the Office of Management and Budget -- Dr. Peter Orszag
Director of the Minerals Management Service -- Dr. Walter Cruickshank (acting)
Commandant of the United States Coast Guard -- ADM Thad Allen
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) for Policy -- Mr. Terrence "Rock" Salt
Director of the United States Geological Survey -- Dr. Suzette Kimball (acting)
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency -- Ms. Lisa Jackson
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy -- Dr. John Holdren
Department of Energy, Under Secretary for Science -- Dr. Steven Koonin
Department of Homeland Security, Undersecretary for Science and Technology --
Mr. Brad Buswell
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration --
Mr. Christopher Scolese (acting)
Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- Dr. Robert Leheny (acting)
Department of State, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs -- Ms. Kerri-Ann Jones (nominated)
At its April 2007 meeting, the NORLC expanded its membership and broadened its scope to include resource management.
Meetings
The NORLC meets at varying times throughout the year to review and approve program activities and plans. The NORLC, which temporarily conducted business as the Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource Management Integration after it expanded its membership and scope, met on the dates below. The operating tempo of U.S. ocean affairs, and thus that of NOPP and the NORLC, is expected to increase.
2008: Scheduled for February 2008
2007: April 27, 2007; August 2, 2007
2006: January 4, 2006; March 2, 2006; May 3, 2006; July 13, 2006; September 21, 2006; December 13, 2006
2005: January 25, 2005; March 3, 2005; May 5, 2005; July 7, 2005; September 8, 2005; November 3, 2005;
Minutes from past NORLC meetings can be found through the links below.
Testimony
Testimony of Dr. Rita Colwell, NORLC Chair, to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (July 23, 2002) 
