John McDonough (left)
NOAA Physical Scientist / Administrator
John McDonough
Deputy Director
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
(Profile Created September, 2006)
This profile has the following content:
Introduction (Quicktime, 2.7 Mb)
John discusses his background and how he came to the Office of Ocean Exploration.
Interest and Experiences (Quicktime, 3.8 Mb)
After dropping out of school, an interest in the natural world leads to a watershed moment.
Dropping Out and Obtaining the GED (Quicktime, 4.4 Mb)
John returns to school, focused and motivated on his future.
The Future of Exploration (Quicktime, 4.3 Mb)
What can young people look forward to doing in the realm of ocean exploration in the near future?
John McDonough received his master’s in environmental science and policy from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, in 1998, and a B.S. in coastal geomorphology from the University of Maryland in 1989. He served as a physical scientist with NOAA’s National Ocean Service from 1989 to 2002, where he developed data and geographic information systems related to coastal and marine environments, and applied that information to help prepare management plans for marine protected areas. From 1998 to 2002, McDonough was the project manager for large-scale undersea research expeditions using a variety of tools and techniques, including manned and unmanned submersibles. Specific efforts include the Sustainable Seas Expeditions, a joint endeavor between NOAA and the National Geographic Society to explore the system of National Marine Sanctuaries managed by NOAA’s National Ocean Service. McDonough initially joined the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration as the expeditions coordinator in January 2003, and has been the office's Deputy Director since 2005. He is committed to exploring and learning more about natural systems in marine and coastal areas, and providing the data and information required for effective ecosystem-based management.
Related Ocean Explorer Content
This section points to Ocean Explorer Web offerings that relate to John McDonough's career:
- Islands in the Stream: 2001
- Islands in the Stream: Exploring Underwater Oases: 2002
- Sanctuary Quest: 2002
- Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Habitats: 2003
- Investigating the Charleston Bump: 2003
Print and Web Resources
Online and offline books, magazines and articles related to this career.
MarineCareers.net 
This site, sponsored by NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program, introduces a wide range of marine career fields and people working in those fields. Professionals describe what they like and dislike about their careers, what they see for the future in their fields, and much more. The site also provides salary and other pertinent career information.
