Maureen Kenny
NOAA Heritage Oral History Project
NOAA Heritage Oral History Project aims to document the history and legacy of NOAA through compelling interviews with its leaders. These firsthand accounts provide an invaluable resource that preserves NOAA's significant contributions to environmental research and management, fostering a deeper understanding of NOAA's vital role in shaping our understanding of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere.
Molly Graham
Captain Maureen Kenny was born in 1953 in Richmond, California. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1975 with a degree in Mathematics, and immediately joined the NOAA Corps when she was twenty-two. After training at Kings Point Maritime Academy, Captain Kenny reported to the NOAA Ship Davidson in Anchorage, Alaska. Her assignments took her all over the country throughout her career. She also attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and earned her master's in Oceanography/Hydrography. She retired from the Corps in 2002 and joined NOAA as a federal employee, serving as Deputy Chief of the Coast Survey Development Laboratory in the Office of Coast Survey. Since retiring from federal service, Maureen has worked as a part-time consultant with LynkerTech in the Hydrographic Surveys Division.
Scope and Content Note
Maureen Kenny recounts her NOAA career, experiences as a woman in a predominantly male field, and insights into the organization's future. Her career with NOAA started in 1978 as a member of the NOAA Corps. She reflects on those early days at sea, engaging in oceanographic surveys and operating scientific instruments. Maureen describes encountering severe storms and navigating icy waters, emphasizing the significance of accurate navigation and NOAA's role in supplying critical maritime data. She also talks about the potential privatization of the Weather Service, emphasizing the importance of accessible weather services for all.
As one of the few women in the NOAA Corps at the time, Maureen discusses the evolving opportunities for women in the organization. She recounts her various positions within NOAA, including her time as the deputy director of the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS).
Maureen expresses admiration for Stephen Gill, a colleague she worked closely with at CO-OPS, describing him as a wonderful person and an invaluable source of knowledge. After a fourteen-year tenure in her final position, Maureen retired at the age of sixty-three but continues to contribute as a part-time consultant for NOAA, assisting with procurements and personnel matters.
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