Vice President of Government & Public Affairs Candidate - Carl Gouldman

Carl Gouldman brings 25 years of leadership experience from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he most recently served as Director of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Office from 2017-2025. In this senior executive role, he led NOAA's implementation of the federally legislated U.S. IOOS program, established in 2009. He previously held the position of Deputy Director from 2014-2017. 

Mr. Gouldman's career began in tourism and coastal recreation, followed by three years at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation managing field education programs focused on bay ecology and conservation. He earned his B.S. in Political Science from Duke University and a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. 

Executive Experience: Mr. Gouldman is a recognized senior executive in ocean science and technology with demonstrated expertise in translating research and development into stakeholder-focused solutions that drive economic growth, environmental protection, and community enhancement. His leadership experience includes managing $150M federal annual budgets and directing 50-person teams through comprehensive strategic planning and execution processes.

Core Competencies:

• Developing Ocean data, science, and information services as a component of the Ocean Enterprise
• Strategic systems thinking with focus on high-impact program delivery
• Innovation and technology development through collaborative partnerships
• Data-driven solutions for critical challenges including coastal hazards, marine operations, weather forecasting, and ecosystem services
• Large-scale resource management and organizational leadership
• Public-private partnership development and stakeholder engagement

Indicate one or two key goals that you hope to accomplish in this position over the next 3 years:
Strategic Goals: My primary goal will be to expand MTS partnership development and strengthen the organization's influence across federal, nonprofit, and private sector stakeholders within the Ocean Enterprise. This expansion will align with MTS's strategic plan while building upon existing successes through innovative, adaptable approaches. 

Federal Sector Engagement: Given the evolving landscape of federal and private investment in the U.S. Ocean Enterprise, I will leverage my extensive government experience to enhance MTS's engagement strategy. My approach would emphasize collaborative team-building and stakeholder alignment to develop innovative strategies that increase awareness and support for the U.S. marine technology sector. Working closely with the MTS board and leadership team, I will seek to establish clear success metrics and performance indicators. 

Implementation Strategy: To achieve these objectives, I will focus on strategic networking and communication initiatives that leverage MTS's robust membership base and established partnerships, including legislative affairs specialists and industry representatives. My approach involves coordinating with the broader MTS ecosystem to enhance MTS's diversified portfolio of activities that advance the organization's government relations and public affairs objectives, ensuring flexibility to respond to emerging opportunities and challenges. 

Discuss the qualities and experience you possess that make you a strong candidate for the position for which you are running:
I offer 25+ years of NOAA leadership experience advancing ocean science and technology, with extensive collaboration across the Marine Technology Society's key constituencies. As both project manager and senior executive, I helped define the U.S. Ocean Enterprise through leadership roles in launching the inaugural Ocean Enterprise Study in 2015 and the first follow-up study in 2020. This deep industry knowledge, combined with my established network of contacts, positions me to immediately contribute to MTS's mission and objectives. 

Professional Capabilities: My career includes 15-20 years of facilitating high-level discussions, conferences, panel sessions, webinars, and collaborative projects that drive marine technology sector advancement and growth. These stakeholder engagement and program management and communication skills have been integral to my professional responsibilities and directly align with MTS's operational needs and strategic goals. 

Recognition and Leadership: My leadership approach and results have been formally recognized through a 2025 Presidential Rank Award nomination, which cited my "exceptional leadership, innovative vision, and ability to build high-performing teams" in delivering mission-critical solutions for ocean and coastal resilience, climate readiness, hazard response, and environmental stewardship. 

Value Proposition: I bring immediate industry credibility, established relationships, and proven program management expertise that can accelerate MTS's partnership development and stakeholder engagement initiatives while supporting the organization's strategic growth objectives.