NGI Community

The NGI Executive Council

The NGI Executive Council consists of six Senior NOAA officials and the Vice Presidents of Research from all six NGI academic partner institutions. Ex Officio members include the NOAA Cooperative Institute Program Director, the NOAA Lead Technical Program Manager (TPM), and the NGI Director. The Executive Council is primarily responsible for broad policy and program direction for the NGI. The Council will transmit NOAA strategic plans and priorities to the NGI management to ensure program alignment with NOAA priorities. NGI is committed to transparency, accountability, governance control, and effective integration through the Executive Council.

Representative Council Members:

• John Cortinas, Ph.D. - OAR AOML Director, Lead Technical PM for NGI
• Alan Leonardi, Ph.D. - OAR OER Director
• Libby Jewett, Ph.D. - OAR Oceans Portfolio Steward
• Joe Pica, Ph.D. - NESDIS/NCEI, Deputy Director
• Paul Scholz, Ph.D. - NOS CFO/CAO
• Steve Thur, Ph.D. - NOS National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Director
• Mel Landry III, Ph.D. - NMFS NOAA Restoration Center
• Julie Jordan, Ph.D. - MSU Interim VP Research and Economic Development
• Gordon Cannon, Ph.D. - USM VP for Research
• Gary K. Ostrander, Ph.D. - FSU VP for Research
• Sam Bentley, Ph.D. - LSU VP Research and Economic Development
• Bob Lindquist, Ph.D. - UAH VP Research and Economic Development
• John Valentine, Ph.D. - DISL Director
• Robert Moorhead, Ph.D. - MSU, NGI Director (ex-officio)
• Gary Matlock, Ph.D. - acting OAR CI Program Director (ex-officio)

The Council of Fellows

The Council of Fellows is chaired by the NGI Director and is composed of senior scientific and technical representatives from each NGI member academic institution. The Council of Fellows is the principal vehicle for NGI concept development, program strategy, annual research plans, peer review, resource allocation, research and technology coordination, and achieving the overarching goal of regional and disciplinary integration. The Fellows participate in regular teleconferences to remain up to date between face-to-face meetings.

The Council of Fellows Members:

• MSU - Robert Moorhead, Ph.D. (Chair, NGI Director)
• MSU - Steve Ashby, Ph.D. (NGI Co-Director)
• USM - Joe Griffitt, Ph.D.
• FSU - Eric Chassignet, Ph.D.
• LSU - Robert Twilley, Ph.D.
• DISL - John Valentine, Ph.D.
• UAH - Kevin Knupp, Ph.D.

Advisory Council

The NGI Advisory Council serves as the principal interface to the regional stakeholder community. The members help us identify and prioritize research and educational needs in the Gulf of Mexico region.

The NGI Advisory Council Members:

• Steven Ashby, Ph.D. - MSU/NGI Co-Director (Co-Chair)
• Monty Graham, Ph.D. - USM/NGI Co-Director (Co-Chair)
• Duane Armstrong - NASA Stennis Space Center
• David Brown, Ph.D. - NOAA National Weather Service, Southern Region
• Laurie Bowie - Gulf of Mexico Alliance
• Alyssa Dausman, Ph.D. - Gulf Coast Ecosystem Research Council
• Lisa Desfosse, Ph.D. - NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
• Ayesha Gray, Ph.D. - Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Judy Haner - The Nature Conservancy
• Julien Lartigue, Ph.D. - NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program
• Kristen Laursen - NOAA Fisheries Service
• Sharon Mesick - NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
• Paul Mickle, Ph.D. - Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
• Helmut Portmann - NOAA National Data Buoy Center
• Buck Sutter, Ph.D. - Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
• LaDon Swann, Ph.D. - MS‐AL Sea Grant Consortium
• Suzanne Van Cooten, Ph.D. - NOAA National Weather Service LMRFC
• Jeff Waters, Ph.D. - US Army Corps of Engineers
• Chuck Wilson, Ph.D. - GOMRI Chief Scientist

Program Leadership

	Robert J. Moorhead II, PhD NGI Director Office: 662.325.2850 Mississippi State University HPC2 Box 9627 Mississippi State, MS 39562		Steven L. Ashby, PhD NGI Co-Director Office: 228.688.3228 NGI Program Office MSU Science and Technology Center 1021 Balch Blvd Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
	Whitley Alford NGI Program Administrator Office: 662.325.8814 Mississippi State University HPC2 Box 9627 Mississippi State, MS 39759		Just Cebrian NGI Associate Director Office: 228.688.4218 NGI Program Office MSU Science and Technology Center 1021 Balch Blvd Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
	Anna Linhoss NGI Associate Director Office: 662.325.1983 Mississippi State University HPC2 Box 9627 Mississippi State, MS 39759		Jonathan Harris NGI Education and Outreach Director Office: 662.325.3837 Mississippi State University HPC2 Box 9627 Mississippi State, MS 39759