Creation of Coastal Ecosystem Data Assembly Center (CEDAC)

January 1, 2018

In conjunction with NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) has developed a Coastal Ecosystem Data Assembly Center (CEDAC) to: (1) provide information services to gather and assess stakeholder requirements; (2) develop and steward the long term coastal data record; (3) enhance the understanding of historical trends, anomalies, and the frequency of event occurrences; and (4) investigate, develop and transition innovative data stewardship solutions to enhance NOAA data management, visualization, and dissemination capabilities.

CEDAC is a multi-disciplinary scientific data exchange, serving the needs of data providers as well as data consumers. NGI data architects are working with NCEI scientists and scientific data stewards to develop capacity for data providers to help simplify data management processes. The CEDAC approach will provide opportunities for data synthesis including fusion, harmonization, and development of integrated products and use-inspired services, many of which will fit within the existing NCEI framework (e.g. World Ocean Database and Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas). Capabilities will transition from NGI research to NOAA operations once fully vetted, and methods developed with Gulf restoration data will be shared for replication across other coastal ecosystems.

Additionally, the NCEI Coastal Data Development program has successfully partnered with and supported the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), the NOAA Deep Sea Corals Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP), the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER), and several members of the Gulf Coast Restoration efforts. Finally, CEDAC is also envisioned to provide a unified public interface for timely, easy, and convenient public access to the data collections resulting from the Gulf recovery and restoration activities.

Along with this new partnership, we would like to welcome the addition of the following personnel to the NGI ranks.

Barbara Ambrose is a graphic designer. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Website Development and NOAA for over 14 years. Barbara provides graphic design, web graphics and presentations within NOAA and supports other agencies outside of NOAA. Her hobbies include photography and gardening. She also enjoys being involved with outreach in her community.

Megan Cromwell is a Project Scientist supporting the Ocean Exploration and Research data management team, but also lends GIS support where needed. Megan recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Oceanography with a minor in Geographical Information Systems from the University of Southern Mississippi. Megan is a competitive sailor and enjoys gardening in her spare time.

Matt Dornback brings a background of marine science, data management, and outreach to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Currently he works with the Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program to manage their data and make it available to the public through deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov. He holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a M.S. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Southern Mississippi Department of Marine Science. During cruises, Matt manages the data collected from samples collected by the ROV and works with the Science Leads to properly handle and preserve the specimens for further scientific analysis.

Clint Edrington has joined NGI as a Research Program Manager. Clint comes to the NGI from Fugro, the world leading marine survey service provider. While at Fugro, Clint served as Lead Scientist for many deep-water exploration surveys, whereas his onshore responsibilities included managing those projects, reports, and other deliverables. Clint academic background is in geoscience. He holds a BS in geophysics from the University of New Orleans and a MS in geology and a PhD in geological oceanography from Louisiana State University. When not working, Clint enjoys exploring new places and things with his wife, reading, fishing, and, well, just happily existing.

Susan Gottfried is the NOAA Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) Data Management Coordinator. Susan works with all project principals and data management team members to plan and coordinate the disposition of data collected for each expedition aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and for a selected subset of OER-funded extramural expeditions. Susan is the developer of the Cruise Information Management System (CIMS) which tracks progress and metrics of the OER data management workflow for OER sponsored missions. She has worked in a scientific computing environment for the majority of her 28+ years of work experience, including software application support for OER, the Naval Oceanographic Office, and the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service. Susan has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Louisiana State University.

Jonathan Jackson chose a career that reflects his love of the outdoors, especially fishing. He earned a B.S in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Mississippi State University and a M.S. in Fisheries and Aquaculture from Auburn University. Jonathan was then hired as a biologist with a private consultant in Mobile, Alabama, participating in operations including upland stream surveys and ROV surveys of salt domes surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In 2013, his career took him to NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Mississippi lab where he worked on a Deepwater Horizon National Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) ichthyoplankton project and participated in NOAA Fisheries sampling cruises. Jonathan transferred into NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information in 2015. He is the technical manager for the Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System and is participating in efforts to archive NRDA data. During cruises, Jonathan manages the data collected from samples collected by the ROV and works with the science leads to properly handle and preserve the specimens for further scientific analysis.

Lauren Jackson is a NCEI-CCOG Project Scientist. Prior to joining NCEI, Lauren was a Fisheries Biologist at the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Lab in Pascagoula, MS. Lauren holds a Master of Science in Coastal Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Auburn University Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures. Her hobbies include fish paintings, swimming, and training for triathlons and marathons.

Kathy Martinolich has worked with NCEI as a Metadata Specialist and Trainer since 2005. She obtained a Bachelor degree in Geography from the University of New Orleans. She has worked on several GIS projects, with an emphasis on the improvement of scientific documentation and data accessibility, often via the vehicle of standard metadata. She enjoys working with a diversity of NOAA projects in this role, and strives to make metadata "as painless as possible" scientists and data managers. Kathy is a native of the Mississippi Coast, and enjoys attending the area many festivals, especially those that feature Gulf Seafood!

David Moffitt has been working with NCEI for two years as a software engineer. He graduated from MSU in 2012 with a degree in bio-engineering, then took extra classes in computer science. He mostly works on NCCOS Geoportal and general data processing and lives in Bay Saint Louis with his dog Lily. Outside of work, David enjoys running, biking, and playing soccer.

Madalyn Newman joins NGI as a Research Scientist supporting NCEI's stewardship of coastal data as a data content manager and processes Okeanos Explorer CTD data. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Marine Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in Long Beach, MS. Madalyn began her career at USM Gulf Coast Research Lab as a Fisheries Ecologist before joining the Pascagoula NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Lab as a Fisheries Biologist for two years, and joined the team at NCEI two years ago. Her hobbies include: kayaking, volleyball, gardening, woodworking, and spending time with her horse Boss, pups Charlie and Pearl, and wonderful husband and family.

Kate Rose is a habitat specialist who serves as content manager for the NOAA Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas. Her duties include collaborating with data partners from many federal and non-federal agencies and institutions to develop geospatial content, metadata and narrative text for the website, and delivering informative briefs and demonstrations to a wide range of audiences. She also represents NOAA and CCOG in the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, providing support for habitat assessment and conservation planning, and overseeing data management projects. Kate completed a B.S. in General Studies-Biology/Geology and a M.S. in Earth and Environmental Studies from the University of New Orleans, where she studied coastal and deltaic geology and geomorphology. She previously worked for the U.S. Geological Survey analyzing geophysical, bathymetric and LIDAR data, and remotely-sensed imagery to map coastal and marine habitats.

Katharine Weathers currently works as a scientist and data content manager for NCEI where she prepares geospatial data packages for long-term archiving and determines best practices for submission. Her past research experience includes looking at bio-physical interactions with emphasis on mesoscale eddies in the Gulf of Mexico using an integrated satellite sensor approach, and research at the ASIST wave-tank at the University of Miami with the Oceans and Human Health project. She received her M.S. in Physical Oceanography from the University of Southern Mississippi and a B.S. in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami. Katharine brings a diverse skill to the team, including data collection and management, sample handling and processing, data analysis, troubleshooting and writing scripts, knowledge of multiple programming languages and platforms, and geographic information systems. She is joining the team during this cruise leg to help with sample processing and data management.

Fred Zeile is a retired U.S. Navy Officer. His Commanding Officers tours included Oceanographic Unit FOUR conducting hydrographic surveys in Indonesia and the Naval Oceanographic Command Facility in Keflavik Iceland. Fred was a Vice President with Analysis & Technology Inc. and Anteon Corporation as well as Director of the Ocean Systems Division. Fred has been with NCEI-CCOG since 2006 as the Program Manager and Senior Scientist. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Oceanography) from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master of Science Degree in Meteorology and Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Arts Degree (with distinction) in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, where he also received the President Award in 1986. Fred and his wife, Ingrid, live in Slidell, LA with their three rescue dogs. He enjoys fishing, Saints games, and playing an occasional game of golf with fellow high-handicap hackers.