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Todd Bridgeman, CAPT

Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator
Image of Captain Bridgeman

Over his 29 year career Captain Bridgeman has held diverse leadership, technical, scientific, and operational positions throughout the agency. He is currently serving as Executive Officer of NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). In this capacity he works as part of the senior management team to provide secure and timely access to global environmental data and information gathered by the agency’s fleet of satellites and systems. NESDIS products and services are essential in promoting and protecting the Nation's security, environment, economy, and quality of life. 

Captain Bridgeman’s previously served as Director, Marine Operations for NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, where he led an organization of 620 people responsible for the collection of timely and accurate maritime data vital to the Nation's economic security, the safety of its citizens, and management of its natural resources. This was accomplished by a world class team of technical experts overseeing the safe and effective operation of the agency’s fleet of sixteen ocean survey vessels and associated systems. Prior shore side assignments include: Executive Director to the NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations as a key advisor on program and policy issues; Deputy Project Manager, NOAA Fleet Composition Analysis and Planning Team, leading the effort to define NOAA’s fleet recapitalization needs; Chief Officer Career Management Division, Commissioned Personnel Center; Program Manager, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division; NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator, US Coast Guard Eighth District; and Deputy Chief of Operations, Marine Operations Center Pacific. 

Captain Bridgeman has over nine years of sea duty throughout the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Bering Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. His sea assignments include: the first Commanding Officer of NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada; first Executive Officer of NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson; Executive Officer NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter; and Junior Officer NOAA Ship Miller Freeman

Captain Bridgeman received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from Texas A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences from Oregon State University. He is a graduate of NOAA’s Leadership Competencies Development Program and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executive Fellows program. He holds a United States Coast Guard 1600 Ton Master’s License and a Second Mate Unlimited Tonnage License. Captain Bridgeman has also worked as a NOAA Advanced Working Diver, a Divemaster, and he maintains several other technical and professional qualifications. 

Captain Bridgeman has received numerous personal and unit awards, all of which are a tribute to the outstanding NOAA and partner-agency personnel he’s had the privilege to serve and work with throughout his career.