UNCW Research Professor Earns Presidential Honor
11/21/2006 3:09:07 PM
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Wilmington, N.C. - Ronald Baird, former director of the National Sea Grant College Program and currently a research professor of marine science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, received a 2006 Presidential Rank Award, the most prestigious federal award given to senior professionals.
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.), undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, cited Baird for "introducing numerous management innovations, including local empowerment, formalized planning and accountability through performance review and merit-based resource allocation while simultaneously reducing administrative costs - now less than 3 percent of funds under management." Lautenbacher is the administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Baird's contributions to Sea Grant have been felt in many ways, added Leon Cammen, Sea Grant's current national director. "He brought a unique ability to create effective teams to address the complex issues facing the nation's coastal residents. The innovations he shepherded - fisheries extension, the Sea Grant Law Center, international Sea Grant, to name a few - have transformed the face of Sea Grant to a much stronger program," said Cammen.
Baird was honored in October by the Rhode Island Sea Grant which named its annual science symposium the "Ronald C. Baird Sea Grant Science Symposium" in his honor. The Baird Symposium, which took place Oct. 19-20, also served as the 6th Marine Law Symposium.
Since moving to North Carolina earlier this year, Baird has taken an active role not only at UNCW, but also working with North Carolina Sea Grant on a variety of topics. For example, he is working with a team that includes university researchers, experts from NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory and the National Weather Service and Sea Grant extension specialists to improve forecasting of inland storm flooding that ultimately can have environmental and economic impacts in coastal communities.
"Previous to my arrival in North Carolina, I both observed and worked with Ron Baird on several Sea Grant-related matters, particularly the first-ever blue-ribbon review of Sea Grant's national extension component in 2000," said Michael Voiland, who joined North Carolina Sea Grant as executive director July 1.
"Ron is a master at understanding and shaping how higher education's research and outreach components can best interact with executive branch mission agencies to address contemporary and emerging coastal issues. The University of North Carolina system as a whole is very fortunate to have someone of Ron's caliber and experience engaged in the state's marine science efforts, plans, and collaborations," Voiland added.
Daniel Baden, director of the UNCW Center for Marine Science, is particularly pleased to have Baird share his extensive experience in federal science administration with faculty members.
"Researchers of Dr. Baird's stature and expertise are of immense value to North Carolina marine sciences. We anticipate his participation and leadership in research and education agendas of his choosing," Baden said. "Personally, I value his interest in the Center for Marine Science and UNCW, and hope that his tenure with us will be fruitful for him."
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Caption: Ron Baird, retired National Sea Grant director, received a 2006 Presidential Rank Award, the most prestigious federal award given to senior professionals. He has joined UNC Wilmington's Center for Marine Science as a research professor. Baird brings a background in science, business, and academic administration to his position at UNCW. He holds a Ph.D. in biological oceanography from Harvard University, an M.A. in zoology from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.S. in zoology from Yale University. UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
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Ronald Baird
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