[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 200 (Friday, December 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DR. NED A. OSTENSO, PH.D., A LEADER IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON LAND AND 
                                  SEA

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I rise to share with my colleagues the news 
that Dr. Ned A. Ostenso, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, plans to retire in 3 weeks, on January 3, 1996.
  During his distinguished career, Dr. Ostenso has made invaluable 
contributions as a research scientist, administrator, and leader in 
shaping America's understanding of the oceans and in directing our 
Nation's marine and atmospheric research.
  As a researcher, he played a major role in defining the structure of 
the Arctic Ocean Basin, providing quantitative studies of mid-ocean 
ridges--including the first paper on the relationship of sea-floor age 
to crustal thickness--and defining the nature of Greenland and 
Antarctic ice caps.
  His research activities have resulted in more than 50 published 
scientific papers.
  Among Dr. Ostenso's numerous honors in earth and marine sciences, a 
seamount in the Arctic Ocean was named after him. In addition, while 
serving with the team that made the first transit of Antarctica during 
the International Geophysical Year, Dr. Ostenso discovered an Antarctic 
mountain peak that today bears his name.
  Long after we are gone, Dr. Ostenso's name will be remembered both on 
land and at sea.
  In the 1970's, Dr. Ostenso represented the United States Navy on 
mutual defense environmental data agreements with Australia, Germany 
and New Zealand. In 1972, he represented the United States Navy in 
negotiating, and later administering, the U.S./U.S.S.R Bilateral 
Agreement in World Ocean Studies.
  Later, he served in the White House Office of Science and Technology 
Policy as Assistant Presidential Science Advisor. He was Deputy 
Director and Senior Oceanographer of the Ocean Science and Technology 
Division, Office of Naval Research.
  In January of 1977, Dr. Ostenso moved from the Navy to the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] to assume 12 years of 
leadership of the Sea Grant College Program.
  I am best acquainted with Dr. Ostenso's extraordinary skill through 
my own role as the Senate author of the National Sea Grant College and 
Program Act. Under his leadership, Sea Grant improved and expanded 
during a dozen exciting and challenging years, including five 
reauthorizations.
  As Sea Grant Director, Dr. Ostenso improved Sea Grant's science 
through rigorous peer review and broadened Sea Grant's reach by 
bringing new colleges and universities under its umbrella. Under his 
leadership, Sea Grant expanded to a total of 29 programs in 31 coastal 
and Great Lakes States.
  Sea Grant is highly regarded for its support of excellent research 
and effective educational and technology transfer programs. An economic 
study of the National Sea Grant Program showed that, in the year 
studied, 1987, Sea Grant's impact on the national economy was $840 
million.
  In today's dollars, this impact would likely exceed $1 billion per 
year. For example, Sea Grant research over the last two decades has 
given the country a profitable marine aquaculture industry with an 
estimated 1995 value of $300 million.
  For 6 years, Dr. Ostenso served as Assistant Administrator for 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which included responsibility for Sea 
Grant, the National Undersea Research Program, and the Environmental 
Research Laboratories.
  During his tenure, the 12 institutions comprising the Environmental 
Research Laboratories made a number of significant contributions 
leading to: Modernization of the National Weather Service; an 
understanding of the physics and chemistry of the polar ozone holes 
that has led to sensible national policies; a national climate program 
that is just now beginning to predict weather on season and yearly time 
scales; and a vast improvement to our understanding of severe weather 
events that has had a direct impact on more accurate and timely 
warnings.
  As Assistant Administrator, Dr. Ostenso oversaw a major shift in the 
focus of the National Undersea Research Program [NURP].
  Under his guidance, NURP changed from a primary focus on the 
procurement of undersea vessels and associated hardware to an increased 
emphasis on more scientifically oriented national, subsurface research.
  NURP now supports merit-based research grants to provide the 
scientific basis for addressing critical natural resource issues--such 
as the preservation of natural marine sanctuaries. The program also 
continues to provide access to an extensive array of manned and 
unmanned undersea vehicles.
  Dr. Ostenso also served as NOAA's acting chief Scientist for 1 year. 
He was instrumental in obtaining OMB and congressional support for a 
15-year NOAA fleet replacement and modernization program.
  Over the years, Dr. Ostenso has served on a number of national and 
international committees and panels. The most recent was his 
appointment by Vice President Gore and the Director of the Central 
Intelligence Agency to serve on an Environmental Task Force to assess 
the dual use of defense and intelligence data and systems for civilian 
environmental studies.
  Dr. Ostenso has played a pivotal role for years in guiding the 
American Geophysical Union [AGU]. Most recently he supervised the 
construction of their handsome new facilities on Florida Avenue here in 
Washington, DC.
  He also is former vice president of the American Oceanic 
Organization, president of the American Polar Society, and a member of 
many organizations, including the Antarctica Society, Arctic Institute 
of North America, Cosmos Club, Explorers Club, and Geological Society.
  I am confident that I speak for many of my colleagues when I express 
admiration and thanks to Dr. Ned A. Ostenso, Ph.D., for his invaluable 
contributions to the United States of America and to the world 
scientific community. He has our best wishes.

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