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Team & Board

The People Who Power MARACOOS

MARACOOS is built on collaboration. Our team and Board of Directors represent a diverse network who share a common goal—advancing coastal and ocean observing for the benefit of Mid-Atlantic communities. Together, they guide our mission to provide high-quality ocean and coastal information that supports safety, resilience, and economic vitality across the Mid-Atlantic region.

MARACOOS Team

Dr. Gerhard F. Kuska

Executive Director

Mary Ford

Deputy Director

Mike Crowley

Technical Director

Jana Foster

Engagement Manager

Dr. Hugh Roarty

HF Radar Lead

Tina Sepahpur

Water Level Manager

Kayla Sheehan

Communications Manager

Teresa Updyke

Deputy HF Radar

Emma Venarde

Program Coordinator, Water level and offshore ops

Kirstin Wakefield

Senior Program Manager, Special Projects

MARACOOS Board of Directors

Dr. Cecily Steppe

MARACOOS Board Chair

Chair & Professor Oceanography Department U.S. Naval Academy

Dr. Richard Luettich

MARACOOS Board Vice Chair

Alumni Distinguished Professor Institute of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina

Dr. Carolyn Thoroughgood

Past Board Chair

Professor, Emerita School of Marine Science and Policy, College of Earth, Ocean and Environment University of Delaware

Dr. Kathy Bunting-Howarth

Board Member

Interim Director New York Sea Grant

Dr. Carl Friedrichs

Board Member

Loretta and Lewis Glucksman Professor of Marine Science Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary

Dr. Scott Glenn

Board Member

Distinguished Professor Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers University

Ryan Green

Board Member

Program Manager Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program

Eoin Howlett

Board Member

Vice President, Digital Products Trinnex

Stephen Lyman

Board Member

Executive Director Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey

Sarah McElman

Board Member

Lead Consultant Metocean Expert Americas

Nelson Vaz

Board Member

Warning Coordination Meteorologist National Weather Service New York Weather Forecast Office (WFO)

Joe Vietri

Board Member

Chief of Planning & Policy, North Atlantic Division Director of the National Planning Center for Coastal & Storm Damage U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Ben Williams

Board Member

Regional Serviceline Director, Americas Metocean, Fugro

Latasha Wright

Board Member

Executive Scientific Officer BioBus