Welcome Letter

Welcome back to Biloxi! After a virtual conference in 2020, the OCEANS conference returns to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2023 for an in-person (only) event.  We are looking forward to the in-person experience we all know and expect from OCEANS conferences.

Our theme is Blue Economy: Locally Sourced, Globally Driven, emphasizing the fact that all our local efforts are integrally linked to the larger world ocean, and we must all work toward sustainability together. The Mississippi coast is home to a number of U.S. Navy and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offices.  It only makes sense that both would serve as Federal Honorary Co-Chairs for OCEANS 2023.

“Naval Oceanography is excited to welcome the breadth of government and civilian sector oceanographic expertise to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for Oceans 2023. This event will showcase the strong partnership between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Government agencies, Academia, and Industry along the Gulf Coast. Naval Oceanography and this consortium of talented organizations tackle some of the Nation’s toughest challenges, and I look forward to a productive conference.” – Admiral Ron Piret, Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.

“This is an amazing time to be located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast!  Oceans 2023 in Biloxi, MS will showcase many New Blue Economy opportunities, including the Gulf Blue initiative, the Roger F. Wicker Ocean Enterprise Facility, the U.S. Navy’s Gulf Coast Tech Bridge, the Commercial Engagement of Ocean Technologies (CENOTE) Act capabilities between NOAA and the U.S. Navy, Ocean Aero’s new office building in Gulfport and the Uncrewed Maritime Systems Test and Training Range located in the Gulf of Mexico.  As the Director of NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center, I welcome you to the area and share your excitement that the new Blue Economy presents.” – Dr. William (Bill) Burnett, Director of the National Data Buoy Center

OCEANS 2023 highlights operational oceanography, which is pivotal to the missions of these organizations and others along the gulf coast – where research is integrated into missions to make them more efficient or accurate, less dangerous or time-intensive.  As such, we have added an Operational Oceanography technical track, along with nine others to reflect the wide range of activity in the Gulf of Mexico and along the coast.

OCEANS 2023 will offer a high-traffic exhibit hall, training based on identified needs of students and young professionals, lively plenaries and town halls, and technical demonstrations.  In addition, our committee is using this opportunity to engage the local community through a Beach Trash Art Contest and an Outreach Challenge for k-12 and community college students.

We hope you will join us for OCEANS 2023 in Biloxi and learn more about the exciting missions, programs, projects, and opportunities in the gulf coast region!

Sincerely, General Co-Chairs Laurie Jugan & Craig A. Peterson