Todd Bridgeman

Profile: Growing up along the New England coast, I developed a love of ships and the sea, and a deep appreciation for the great economic, cultural, social, and recreational benefits the ocean provides and in turn, the importance of sustaining this great resource for generations to come. My interests led me to Texas A&M University in Galveston, Texas and then on to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps ( http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/ ). Smallest of the Nation’s seven uniformed services, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps provides the Nation with a cadre of professionals trained in science and engineering. Officers operate ships, fly aircraft, manage research projects, conduct diving operations, and serve in staff and leadership positions throughout NOAA. My assignments have taken me from the furthest reaches of the Aleutian Island Chain to remote areas of Louisiana's vast wetlands, all in support of NOAA’s mission to effectively manage and sustain the resources with which it has been entrusted. After 14 years with the Corps, I had the fortunate opportunity to first discover, and then participate in Oregon State University's Professional Science Masters Program (PSM) in Environmental Sciences. I had been searching for a graduate program where I could capitalize on my experience, while gaining the skills I required to be an effective environmental professional as I progress to higher-level assignments within NOAA. In the PSM program, I found exactly what I was looking for. Through its unique blend of science, business, leadership, communication, and ethics, combined with numerous experiential learning opportunities, the PSM program provided the training I required to be highly effective as I move into the second half of my career. Whether an individual is coming directly from an undergraduate degree program, or returning to school after working for several years, the PSM curriculum provides the perfect balance of training and experience to ensure one can function effectively at the increasingly important interfaces between science, technology, industry, and government.  If you have any questions I can be contacted via email at: todd.a.bridgeman@noaa.gov .