Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Director LaDon Swann has been selected to serve on the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (OARP). The panel advises the National Ocean Research Leadership Council and provides independent recommendations about ocean research and related issues to the federal government.

Swann’s appointment is for a four-year term. Members of the panel represent the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, ocean industries, state governments, academia and others, including individuals who are eminent in the fields of marine science, marine policy, or related fields, including ocean resource management.

The panel’s duties include providing advice in several areas, including policies and procedures to implement the National Oceanographic Partnership Program; selection of partnership projects and allocation of funds for partnership projects for implementation under the program; and matters relating to the national oceanographic data requirements. The panel also fulfills any additional responsibilities that the National Ocean Research Leadership Council considers appropriate.

The ORAP is an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is the only FACA body chartered to advise all the ocean agencies.

The panel has no more than 18 members and no less than 10. Members are appointed by the Chairman of the Council, and the appointments are renewed on an annual basis by the Secretary of Defense.

Swann is also the director of marine programs for Auburn University.