On May 19, 2020, Molly Graham interviewed Albert “Benjie” Spencer as part of the NOAA Heritage Oral History Project. Spencer retired in 2024 as the Chief Engineer and Director of Engineering Standards Division for the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) in the Office of Planning and Programming for Service Delivery. His responsibilities included implementing policy, providing end-to-end system engineering oversight, assessing risks, and ensuring consistent engineering processes and standards throughout the organization.

Captain Albert “Skip” Theberge, Jr. was born in 1946 in Coquille, Oregon.  When Skip was three years old, his family moved to Santa Cruz, where he learned to surf and because fascinated with the ocean.  He graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a professional degree in geological engineering. Skip also has a master’s degree in management from the Naval Postgraduate School.  In 1969, Theberge was commissioned as an ensign in the ESSA Corps, which soon became NOAA Corps. He retired with the rank of captain in 1995, after nearly 27 years of commissioned service.

Alison works in the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office in the Coral Conservation Branch of the Protected Resources Division. Her area of expertise is coral ecology, particularly reproduction, recruitment, and restoration. She provides scientific support for management actions and coordinates recovery-related activities for the seven species of Caribbean coral listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Ann Terbush Schaefer was born in San Francisco in 1947. Her family moved to New York, where Ann attended the High School of Music and Art, before moving again to Washington, DC, where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. Ann started her college career at Wells College in Aurora, New York. She transferred to George Washington University with a fine arts degree in 1969. She eventually also earned her master’s in public administration from American University in 1983.

Captain John Callahan was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944. His family moved to New Jersey, where he attended St. Joseph’s Grammar School and graduated from Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, in 1961. John was the first in his family to attend college. He went to the State University of New York Maritime College and graduated with a degree in marine engineering before earning his law degree from Catholic University in 1971. Captain Callahan started his career as a naval architect/marine engineer for M.

On April 9, 2024, Molly Graham interviewed Captain Carl Fisher for the NOAA Heritage Oral History Project. The interview was conducted remotely, with Fisher participating from Norfolk, Virginia, and Graham from Scarborough, Maine. Carl Fisher, originally from Canandaigua, New York, reflects on his upbringing in the Finger Lakes region and his education at Canandaigua Academy. Fisher pursued a career in maritime studies, attending the State University of New York Maritime College, where he earned a degree in meteorology and oceanography.

On September 4, 2024, Molly Graham interviewed Cliff Newell in Phippsburg, Maine, for the NOAA Heritage Oral History Project. Newell discusses his family’s Irish immigrant background, early life in Bath, Maine, and his father’s career as a shipyard worker and police officer. He reflects on his childhood experiences, education, and initial interest in marine technology and diving, which shaped his career trajectory.

Craig McLean was born in Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1957. His father was a first-generation immigrant from Scotland who served in the US Navy during World War II. His mother was a second-generation daughter of Sicilian immigrants. He grew up along the Passaic River, was a self-described "river rat," became a certified diver, and worked for a boatyard next to his house. At Rutgers College, Craig studied marine biology and zoology and worked on research cruises with NOAA ships. During the summers, he worked in the commercial and retail dive industry.

Dr. Curt Storlazzi, Ph.D., is a prominent coastal scientist with a strong focus on coastal and marine research. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) and a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Delaware. Dr. Storlazzi has over two decades of experience and currently serves as a Research Geologist and Oceanographer in the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program. Simultaneously, he is a Research Associate at UCSC's Institute for Marine Sciences.

On September 30, 2021, Molly Graham interviewed David Kennedy remotely for the NOAA 50th Oral History Project. Kennedy, born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on June 24, 1947, has a background in anthropology and served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force before transitioning to a career in environmental research and response. His military service included flying C-130 aircraft in Alaska, supporting scientific research missions in Greenland, and working with the National Science Foundation.