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. After graduation in 1979, Craig came to work for NOAA, diving with and studying whales on Stellwagen Bank and then as a marine mammal observer onboard the NOAA Ship Delaware II. This was his introduction to the NOAA Corps. After training, Craig had a series of land and sea assignments, including Junior Officer on the Mount Mitchell, Special Assistant to the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, and Executive Officer of the Albatross. Before attending law school at Quinnipiac College, he also had assignments with the NOAA Office for Law Enforcement and Special Projects Branch. Craig then served as a lawyer for the National Ocean Service and Sanctuaries and the Legislative Counsel office for NOAA, then Fisheries. In 2001, Craig became the founding director of the NOAA Ocean Exploration Program, where he spent three years before serving as NOS's acting deputy assistant administrator. In 2006, he came to work for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research as its deputy assistant administrator and then assistant administrator for research un 2015 until his retirement in 2022. Craig also served as chief scientist for NOAA from 2017 to 2020 and again from 2021 until retirement.

Scope and Content Note

Session 1: Craig traces his family history, immigration to the United States, and nautical roots. His father served in the Navy and would bring Craig and his older brother to see the ships coming into New York Harbor. He talks about growing up in New Jersey and along the Passaic River. He remembers the race riots of 1967, anti-Vietnam War protests on college campuses, and the protest music that came out of this tumultuous time. Craig enjoyed and excelled in science classes in school and was influenced by his English teacher, Mr. Hugh Thomas, who encouraged academic discipline.

Session 2: Craig discusses the historical movements and moments of the 1960s and 70s, including the moon landing, the Watergate scandal, and the influence of Jacques Cousteau and Diver Dan. Growing up along the Passaic River, Craig developed an interest in boats and diving; he went to dive school close to his home and paid for lessons with his job at the next-door boatyard. He shares stories from his diving experiences in and around New Jersey - even international – and some close calls he had with fellow divers. In high school, Craig played in a band, was especially inspired by The Eagles, and performed locally. In 1975, Craig came to Rutgers College, where he studied zoology and worked closely with Professor Carol Litchfield, who taught marine microbiology.

Session 3: Craig talks about campus life at Rutgers, his classes with Dr. Carol Litchfield, and his introduction to the NOAA Corps onboard the George B. Kelez, studying pollution in the New York Bight. After college, he came to work for Steve Morello and Stormy Mayo, NOAA Scientists leading a monitoring program of whales on Stellwagen Bank. In 1981, Craig joined the NOAA Corps and completed his training at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. He traces his career in the NOAA Corps, with assignments on the Mount Mitchell and Albatross, traveling up and down the Atlantic coast and visiting different countries and cultures along the way; a shore assignment working under Bill Gordon, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, and his deputy, James Douglas; and a tour with the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement where he met his wife, Jo Ann, and worked with the Special Projects office of the NOAA Corps and US Navy Special Warfare Development Group.

Session 4: Craig details more of his NOAA Corps career and assignments on the Mount Mitchell, Albatross IV, Researcher, and Gordon Gunter. Then he describes how Admiral Bill Moran called and gave him the choice of assignments: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary manager or law school. Craig attended the Quinnipiac University School of Law (formerly Bridgeport Law School). He graduated in 1993 with his JD degree, which served him well during the next phase of his career - defending the NOAA Corps from the threat of elimination, in which he and his colleagues were successful. Craig then went to work for the Fisheries Service Fisheries under Rollie Schmitten, Fisheries Assistant Administrator. Hurricane Katrina happened while Craig served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for the National Ocean Service. He discusses NOAA's response to the storm and support for the people of New Orleans.

Session 5: Craig provides more details and context around the threat of eliminating the NOAA Corps and his strategies, risks, and challenges for making a case for keeping the service. He talks about founding and forming the Ocean Exploration Program; diving missions on the USS Monitor, Titanic, and other sites and shipwrecks; and then coming to work with Rick Spinrad in the National Ocean Service and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

Session 6: Craig reflects on becoming Chief Scientist for NOAA during the Obama Administration, his role and efforts to promote scientific integrity during the Trump administration, and ultimately being fired for doing so. Craig was reinstated as chief scientist during Biden's administration and continued in that role and as Assistant Administrator for Research until his retirement.

Other topics include:

• The Deepwater Horizon disaster.
• The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
• The Hurricane Dorian controversy.
• The COVID-19 pandemic.

Interview with Craig McLean