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NOAA Administrator’s Message
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is committed to delivering lifesaving services and products to every American each day. The implementation of our weather, water, and climate missions will create a climate-ready nation and a climate-resilient economy that fosters development in areas such as climate products and services, the new blue economy, and sustainable fisheries.
As we take steps to ensure excellent mission delivery and to provide products and services in an equitable and just manner, we have also taken critical steps to define our facilities goals and objectives that will inform the agency’s 2030 federal footprint and alignment of portfolio investments.
This 2030 NOAA Facilities Strategic Plan has been developed using a methodological approach including data from a national facilities footprint study, national listening sessions related to service delivery, and a comprehensive assessment examining the use, potential cost savings, and management of our real property portfolio. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the nation and accelerating the need to redefine a future flexible workplace. Our facilities transformation will have positive impacts for our mission delivery, strengthening our partnerships and equitable service delivery, as well as ensuring a safe and effective workplace for our workforce.
The current facilities portfolio is large and intentionally dispersed across the United States. Being highly distributed allows us to have experts across the nation working with local communities. Our facilities include highly specialized laboratories, state-of-the-science data assimilation, modeling and prediction centers, satellite operations facilities, ship and aircraft operations facilities, weather forecast offices, and fisheries and ocean science centers. As our mission delivery evolves, we will take the steps needed to evolve our real property portfolio. Through this process I am committed to continuing delivery of products and services to every American, especially within the most disadvantaged and underserved communities. Additionally, I am committed to strengthening our federal, state, and local partnerships, collaborations with academia, and fostering economic development with our commercial stakeholders. The four goals highlighted in this Plan will guide our facilities transformation and modernization towards a portfolio of real property assets and facilities that are safe, climate-resilient, energy efficient, and provide a flexible workspace. We will use portfolio and lifecycle asset management best practices, focus on a whole-of-government approach, and ensure excellent service delivery to all Americans.
Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D.
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator