Gary Locke Selected to be Next Commerce Secretary
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President Barack Obama nominated former Washington Governor Gary Locke to be the next Secretary of the Department of Commerce earlier this week. The Consortium for Ocean Leadership applauds the selection of Gary Locke and looks forward to working closely with him while he guides the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which comprises more than half of the Department’s budget.
In June of 2004 then Governor Locke had the opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. He proposed 5 strategies that he considered key to the successful implementation of the Commission’s recommendations: governance structure, sound science, sustainable fisheries, protection of marine ecosystems and education. He recommended the establishment of a National Ocean Policy Act that would include provisions to clarify and strengthen the mission of NOAA. He was opposed the Commission’s recommendation to set a national standard for fishery management and instead favored the review process in place at NOAA which measures the sustainability of fisheries at regional levels through interstate management plans. He supported to the recommendations relating to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and would retain the authority for MPAs within NOAA.
Locke is a proven leader that will help NOAA meet its many obligations including providing daily weather forecasts and storm warnings, climate monitoring, fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce. This is particularly important now, as NOAA is responsible for accessing and disseminating critical environmental information about our oceans and atmosphere, which is essential for our transition to a green economy.
Locke was elected the 21st governor of Washington State in 1996, making him the first Chinese American governor in U.S. history and the first Asian American governor on the United States’ mainland. In 2000, Locke was re-elected to a second term. During his years as governor, Locke personally negotiated and signed a Washington State-Canada salmon treaty protecting wild salmon runs. Locke also created and launched the West Coast Governors’ Initiative on Climate Change and successfully started public and private initiatives to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase energy conservation.
As Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Locke will ensure American workers can prosper, businesses can thrive, and the economy can grow.
Since leaving his position of governor, Locke has been a successful business advocate and adviser, helping U.S. companies break into international markets, particularly in Asia, and expand their international business.
