Larry Robinson, a national symbol of FAMU’s first rate faculty, is leaving U.S. President Barack Obama’s team to return to the academy.On February 1, 2010, Rattler Nation broke the news that Obama had nominated Robinson to be the assistant secretary of commerce for conservation and management at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed him on May 6, 2010 and took his oath four days later on the steps of Lee Hall Auditorium.
Robinson’s resignation is effective November 18. NOAA released his announcement one day after it awarded FAMU a $15M grant, the largest in the university’s history. The money is an investment that aims to increase the pool of well-trained and highly qualified scientists and managers, particularly from under-represented minority groups, who will be available to work for NOAA and other resource management entities.
The NOAA press releases states that Robinson is “returning to academia to resume his work in academic administration and train the next generation of environmental scientists and leaders.” It does not mention whether or not he is coming back to FAMU. When Robinson’s appointment was announced last year, President James H. Ammons said that the door is open for Robinson to return to FAMU any time.
Robinson previously served as the director of FAMU’s Environmental Sciences Institute (now the School of the Environment), provost and vice-president for academic affairs, acting chief executive officer, and vice-president for research.
“I deeply appreciate Larry’s service, especially his ability to engage in the breadth of scientific activities during his tenure at NOAA, and the mentoring he provided to senior NOAA managers,” said Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “In every instance his contributions on behalf of NOAA advanced the administration’s environmental and ocean conservation and management priorities.
Robinson arrived at NOAA shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and immediately led the coordination of NOAA’s work with partners and stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico. He also provided vital leadership to advance the Obama Administration’s priorities, serving as the NOAA representative to the National Ocean Policy Deputy’s Committee; the National Science and Technology Council Committee (NSTC) on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education; the NSTC Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and other key restoration related taskforces.
Earlier this year, Robinson led a working group on ocean plumes established to model and predict ocean transport of radiation threats to U.S. assets in the Pacific and in the continental United States from radioactivity released by the damaged Japanese Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. His training as a nuclear chemist was critical to the group as they worked to generate models to enhance understanding of the movement of radiological contaminants in the ocean.
In keeping with his commitment to education and diversity, Robinson also focused his participation with the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education to highlight NOAA’s important role in education programs and activities to prepare the next generation of NOAA scientists from all segments of American society.
“From the visionary and inspirational leadership of Dr. Jane Lubchenco, to the world-class talent and unwavering commitment to our mission by the NOAA team all across the nation, and to the Department of Commerce and the federal family, I am privileged to have worked with them all in service critical to the well being of communities and ecological resources entrusted to us to manage and conserve,” Robinson said. “I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to this administration for providing me this opportunity to serve.”