Following his promotion yesterday from captain to rear admiral, Gerd Glang was named as director of the NOAA Office of Coast Survey and the nation’s chief hydrographer, responsible for mapping and charting of all United States coastal waters.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed his nomination by President Obama to the rank of rear admiral (lower half), now a prerequisite for the position.
Glang will be responsible for overseeing NOAA’s hydrographic services, vital to the nation’s $1.9 trillion maritime economy and supporting President Obama’s National Export Initiative.
Glang succeeds Capt. John E. Lowell, who retired in June after 29-year career in the NOAA Corps, serving the last three years as director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey and U.S. national hydrographer.
“ NOAA’s navigational services provide critical support to our nation’s maritime economy and position it for future growth ,” said David Kennedy, NOAA assistant administrator for the National Ocean Service , in announcing Glang’s appointment. “ As NOAA faces demands for the acquisition and use of hydrographic data for – and beyond – the maritime transportation system, Gerd Glang is the right person, in the right place.”
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Dredging Today Staff, August 15, 2012; Image: noaanews