8/20/02

UNOLS ANNUAL MEETING
8:30 A.M., Friday, 27 September 2002
National Science Foundation, Room 1235
4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA

Introduction and Welcome: Robert Knox, UNOLS Chair will call the meeting to order and will give a brief summary of the issues of current interest to UNOLS. He will also summarize the major accomplishments within UNOLS over the last year.

Keynote Address

RADM Jay Cohen, Chief of Naval Research and Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation will provide the keynote address. The keynote address will take place during the morning at a time to be determined and we will break from other reports at that time. See page two of the agenda for details.

Activities and Issues

COMMITTEE REPORTS – Robert Knox will introduce the UNOLS Committee Chairs who will report on their activities.

Research Vessel Operators' Committee (RVOC) – Steve Rabalais, Chair, will review the activities of RVOC in 2001/2002 and plans for the 15 – 17 October Annual RVOC meeting to be hosted by Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institution.

Research Vessel Technical Enhancement Committee (RVTEC) – Dale Chayes, Chair, will report on RVTEC activities in 2001/2002 and plans for the RVTEC Annual Meeting scheduled for 12-14 November to be hosted by the University of Hawaii.

DEep Submergence Science Committee (DESSC) – Patty Fryer, Chair, will report on the DESSC activities, 2001/2002 ATLANTIS/ALVIN/ROV operations, equipment/instrumentation upgrades and improvements to the National Deep Submergence Facility (Jason II). She will report on submergence operations planned for 2003 and beyond, committee outreach activities, ad hoc Shallow Submergence Science Committee activities, the NOAA/NASA LINK Symposium and the New ALVIN Design Advisory Committee.

Fleet Improvement Committee (FIC) - Larry Atkinson, Chair, will report on the FIC activities in 2001/2002 and plans for the upcoming year. He will summarize FIC’s Fleet Renewal Activities. Many of these items will be addressed in greater detail later in the meeting.

Ship Scheduling Committee (SSC) – Joe Ustach, Chair, will review the recommendations of the September Ship Scheduling Review meeting. He will summarize the UNOLS ship operation plans for 2003.

Arctic Icebreaker Coordinating Committee (AICC) – Lisa Clough, Chair, will report on the activities of the AICC in 2001/2002. She will report on science operations for HEALY and the Polar Class Icebreakers in 2002. Science operations and meetings planned for 2003 will be discussed.

2002 UNOLS KEYNOTE ADDRESS

RADM Jay Cohen, Chief of Naval Research

Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation

The Federal Oceanographic Facilities Committee (FOFC) has published a Plan for Academic Fleet Renewal. UNOLS working with the Federal Agencies and oceanographic community are focusing on the implementation of this Plan. We are pleased to announce this year’s keynote speakers, RADM Jay Cohen and Dr. Rita Colwell, who will discuss their respective agency’s Fleet Renewal plans.

Rear Admiral Jay M. Cohen[1]

Rear Admiral Jay M. Cohen took office as the 20th Chief of Naval Research, in June 2000. In this position, he is the Department of the Navy's senior science and technology executive and is responsible for a greater than $1 billion program. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Command supports research at Navy laboratories and funds research through grants and contracts with universities, industry, and non-profit organizations. ONR provides technical advice to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy, works with industry to improve technology and manufacturing processes to reduce fleet costs, and encourages academic interest in naval relevant science from the high school through postdoctoral levels. Also under ONR command is the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), in Washington, D.C., with branches in Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Monterey, Calif.

RADM Cohen graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, where he was a Trident Scholar. He studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution where he received a joint Ocean Engineering degree and Master of Science in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from MIT.

RADM Cohen’s military career is extensive with many tours of duty including the command of USS L.Y. SPEAR and her crew of 1200 (1991-1993). This tour included deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation DESERT STORM. SPEAR received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the deployment, which was the ship's first in eleven years.

RADM Cohen served on the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, as senior member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, and on the staff of the Director of Naval Intelligence at the Pentagon as Director of Operational Support. In 1993, RADM Cohen reported to SECNAV staff for duty as Deputy Chief of Navy Legislative Affairs. In October 1997 he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and reported to the Joint Staff for duty as Deputy Director for Operations. In June 1999 he assumed duties as Director Navy Y2K Project Office.

RADM Cohen is authorized to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal and multiple awards of the Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal.

Dr. Rita R. Colwell[2]

Dr. Rita R. Colwell became the 11^th Director of the National Science Foundation in August 1998. Since taking office, NSF has received significant budget increases, and has reached a level of more than $4.8 billion. The Foundation’s core activities have strengthened, as well as support for major initiatives, including Nanotechnology, Biocomplexity, Information Technology, Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences and the 21^st Century Workforce. Dr. Colwell is dedicated to the agency's emphasis in K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education/training and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. In her capacity as NSF Director, she serves as Co-chair of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council.

Before coming to NSF, Dr. Colwell was President of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 1991-1998. She was also a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990.

Dr. Colwell has held many advisory positions in the U.S. Government, non-profit science policy organizations, and private foundations, as well as in the international scientific research community. She has authored or co-authored 16 books and more than 600 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas.

Dr. Colwell is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Medal of Distinction from Columbia University, the Gold Medal of Charles University, Prague, and the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Alumna Summa Laude Dignata from the University of Washington, Seattle.

Dr. Colwell has previously served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology and also as President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Washington Academy of Sciences, the American Society for Microbiology, the Sigma Xi National Science Honorary Society, and the International Union of Microbiological Societies. Dr. Colwell is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Colwell holds a B.S. in Bacteriology and an M.S. in Genetics, from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Washington.

Break

FEDERAL AGENCY and CORE REPORTS

Federal Agency Reports - Information from Federal Agencies (NSF, ONR including NRL, Oceanographer of the Navy including NAVO & CNMOC, NOAA, USCG, USGS, MMS, DOS and DOE) on 2002 activities and forecasts for 2003 and beyond.

Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education – A report on CORE activities of interest to UNOLS will be provided.

12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch Break 12:00 -1:00 PM

UNOLS Fleet Renewal Activities - Reports by Bob Knox, Larry Atkinson, and agency representatives on implementation of the Fleet Renewal Plan.

· Federal Agency plans for implementation – support for construction

· Ocean Class Science Mission Requirements (SMR) Workshop

· Regional Class SMR Workshop

· Navy Common Hull Study

· KILO MOANA Construction Completion and Science Operations

· Arctic Region Research Vessel Design Efforts

· CAPE HENLOPEN Replacement

Research Vessel Security – Dan Schwartz, Chair of the RVOC Research Vessel Security Committee, will report on their recommendations and activities regarding Fleet security measures.

Facilities beyond Ships: Curt Collins will present a proposal to designate the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) as a the first national oceanographic aircraft facility under Appendix II of the UNOLS Charter. Additionally the establishment of a “Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Aircraft Research” (SCOAR) is proposed. The proposed Terms of Reference and Operating Procedures will be reviewed and a brief report on CIRPAS will be provided.

Quality of Service Initiative – Mike Prince will report on the revised Post Cruise Assessment Form and other activities by UNOLS to address quality of service and improvement.

UNOLS Membership Votes

The following issues require a membership vote for approval:

1. Designation of the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) as a National Oceanographic Aircraft Facility in accordance with Annex II of the UNOLS Charter.

2. Approve the establishment of a “Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Aircraft Research” (SCOAR) under Annex II of the UNOLS Charter to be operated according to the Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Aircraft Research (SCOAR) Terms of Reference and Operating Procedures dated September 27, 2002.

UNOLS Elections: Elections for the following UNOLS Council positions will be held (Click here to view the 2002 Slate and Candidate Vitae):

UNOLS CHAIR (2 year term) – Individual affiliated with any UNOLS Member Institution
UNOLS Chair-Elect (2 year term) - Individual affiliated with any UNOLS Member Institution
Operator Representative (3 year term) - from among designated UNOLS Member Operator institutions

· UNOLS Council Member, (3-year term) At-large, affiliated with any Member Institution.

Issues Before UNOLS

Various issues of interest to UNOLS Members have arisen during the year. The UNOLS Chair will introduce these issues for discussion (some items may have been addressed during the UNOLS Committee Reports).

· ISM –Large UNOLS Vessel Compliance

· Ocean Commission Hearings

· Ocean Observatories and their Facility Needs

· Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) Membership

· NOAA’s Fishery Research Vessel Construction

· UNOLS Standard Scientific Van Design

· UNOLS Standard Wires – new specifications and safe working loads

· Fleet Additions/Reductions – SEA DIVER, LAURENTIAN are no longer operating in the UNOLS Fleet. SAVANNAH began operations in Fall 2001.

· UNOLS Dues Accounting

· UNOLS Booth at the Fall AGU Meeting

· UNOLS Members may wish to raise additional issues.

UNOLS Elections Results

2002/2003 UNOLS Goals and Priorities

Robert Knox will present the 2002/2003 UNOLS Goals and Priorities as established by the UNOLS Council.

Other Business

UNOLS Appointments to Committees: The UNOLS Chair will announce new appointments to the Executive Committee and standing committees in accordance with the UNOLS Charter.

Announce meeting Calendar for 2003.

Adjourn

[1] RADM Jay Cohen is the New Chief of Naval Research, <http://www.onr.navy.mil/news/6%5F5%5F00a.htm>, June 5, 2000