Rear Admiral Richard D. West

Rear Admiral Richard D. West, U.S. Navy (Retired), became President and CEO of CORE in August 2002. Admiral West came to CORE from the Department of the Navy where he completed his most recent tour of duty as Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy. During his three years as Oceanographer and Navigator, he managed a $400 million annual program providing oceanographic, meteorological, geospatial information and navigation support to the Navy. He was designated the ‘first’ Navigator of the Navy and lead the Navy transition from paper to electronic navigation. He was responsible for the review of all Navy training and procurement in support of navigation and geospatial information systems {GIS}. He has been called upon to speak as an expert on navigation, GIS and safety of life at sea.

His military career encompassed a broad spectrum of operational experience, high-level staff assignments, and command and leadership positions. Prior to serving as Oceanographer, he was the Deputy Director for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. Other shore assignments include Director, Surface Combat Systems Division on the CNO's Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations CINCSOUTH, and Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force. From 1992-1993, as Commanding Officer of the Surface Warfare Officers School, he directed a large, advanced studies academic institution, which provides a continuum of professional education and training to prepare naval officers to serve at sea.

Admiral West served in Vietnam with the riverine forces and commanded ships during hostilities in the Arabian Gulf. He has commanded three ships, USS OPPORTUNE (ARS 41), USS MCINERNEY (FFG 8), and USS LEAHY (CG 16).

As President, Rear Admiral West leads and manages the Washington, DC-based association of 74 of the country’s leading oceanographic research institutions, universities, laboratories, and aquaria. CORE's mission is to promote, develop, and support efforts to advance knowledge and learning in the science of oceanography and to disseminate such knowledge to the scientific community and to the public. CORE also serves as the Program Office for the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), a collaboration among fourteen Federal agencies to provide leadership and coordination of national oceanographic research and education programs. In addition CORE manages a high school level educational program, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, and a coordinated program of research supported by the Sloan Foundation, the Census of Marine Life.