I want to commend President Obama for appointing Dr. Donald F. Boesch to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Off Shore Drilling. I know Don Boesch personally and he is one of our nation’s most prominent biological oceanographers. Don Boesch combines unrivaled scientific expertise, an extraordinary range of relevant experience, and a passion for our ocean resources. President Obama has chosen well.
As Professor of Marine Science and President of the
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
(UMCES), Dr. Boesch has conducted research in coastal and continental shelf environments along the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, eastern Australia and the East China Sea. He has served as science adviser to many state and federal agencies, and regional, national and international programs. His knowledge and understanding of oceanography, ecosystem management and marine environment will ensure that the National Commission has the scientific expertise it needs to make important changes.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an environmental disaster for our nation and the National Commission has been charged with recommending a new regulatory system with the necessary safeguards and authority to ensure that we never have a repeat of what is now occurring in the Gulf of Mexico.
Dr. Boesch is a native of New Orleans and he received his B.S. from Tulane University and Ph.D. from the College of William & Mary. He was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Queensland and subsequently served on the faculty of the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
. In 1980 he became the first Executive Director of the
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
(LUMCON), where he was also a Professor of Marine Science at Louisiana State University. He assumed his present position at the University of Maryland in 1990.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
. In 1980 he became the first Executive Director of the
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
(LUMCON), where he was also a Professor of Marine Science at Louisiana State University. He assumed his present position at the University of Maryland in 1990.
