May 05, 2009

Scientist and coastal steward pioneer Nancy Foster, Ph.D., has made enormous contributions to the ocean community worldwide. In NOAA's 30th Anniversary year, NOAA recognizes her accomplishments and her continuing work for our nation's coasts and oceans in naming the Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Center.

In 1997, Dr. Foster was named the Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Prior to this position, Dr. Foster served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service. She also served as the Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries from January through October 1993.

As Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, Dr. Foster led the reorganization of the National Marine Fisheries Service and helped to create a more efficient, responsive, and scientifically rigorous agency. During her tenure, Dr. Foster created the NOAA Habitat Restoration Center and the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank, opening new doors to marine science and management.

Dr. Foster has brought NOAA's National Ocean Service to a stature and strength unequaled in its history and has enabled the National Ocean Service to lead the nation in coastal stewardship.

Much of the success of the National Marine Sanctuary System, a treasure to the American people, is attributable to Dr. Foster's tenure as Chief in its early years and through her present level of support and advocacy.

Prior to joining NOAA, Dr. Foster worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and served as Chairperson of the Biology Department at Dumbarton College for Women.

Her conservation accomplishments have been recognized through numerous awards including three Department of Commerce Bronze Medals. In 1993, she received the department's highest award - the Gold Medal - for leadership in providing stewardship of the Nation's living marine resources. In 1999, she was honored with a Presidential Rank Award for her overall outstanding marine conservation leadership for the nation.

Dr. Foster received her M.S. in Marine Biology from Texas Christian University and her Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the George Washington University where her doctoral research focused on the ecology and systematics of polychaetous annelids.

On Wednesday April 26th, a team of NOAA’s finest will dedicate a center in honor of Dr. Nancy Foster’s continuing, all encompassing, marine conservation leadership. The Florida Keys Environmental Center will be interactive, professionally developed, and stimulating to multiple sectors and interests of the public and represent the activities of each of the contributing agencies, featuring of course, the Florida Keys Sanctuary. A second building will house Sanctuary operations, including laboratory space and diving locker, and the waterfront will provide access for research vessels, scientific cooperators, and other state and federal agency activities. The property and buildings are part of the Naval Station Annex (referred to locally as Truman Annex) and was formerly used by the Navy for berthing aviation fuel tankers and accommodating the Navy Hydrofoil Squadron. A decline in Navy usage of the port in the recent past, opened the site up for redevelopment. The Naval Station Annex is in operational use by the Coast Guard. This site and its use reflects multi-agency partnering at its best and reflects a blend of some of our country's most important mandates: environmental protection, marine safety and rescue, and coastal stewardship.

Below is a collection of photogrpahs and a streaming video of the dedication ceremony for the Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Center. The original live broadcast of the dedication ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 26, 2000 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. The broadcast is approminately 1 hour in length.

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