National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - History and Organizational Structure

History and Organizational Structure

NOAA was formed on October 3, 1970, after Richard Nixon proposed creating a new department to serve a national need "… for better protection of life and property from natural hazards … for a better understanding of the total environment … for exploration and development leading to the intelligent use of our marine resources …" NOAA formed a conglomeration of three existing agencies that were among the oldest in the federal government. They were the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, formed in 1807; the Weather Bureau, formed in 1870; and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, formed in 1871. NOAA was established within the Department of Commerce via the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970. With its ties to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, NOAA celebrated 200 years of service in 2007.

NOAA works toward its mission through six major line offices, in addition to more than a dozen staff offices:

Line Offices

  • The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS)
  • The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
  • The National Ocean Service (NOS)
  • The National Weather Service (NWS)
  • Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
  • Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI)

Staff Offices

  • Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology
  • Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
  • NOAA Central Library

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