Our Location
The Woods Hole facility occupies 3.4 acres on Vineyard Sound. The facility houses both the Woods Hole Laboratory research divisions and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center directorate. The center provides overall management and direction for the five NOAA Fisheries laboratories located in the Northeast.
What We Do
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Operations, Management, and Information Division serves as the focal point for the Center's budget functions, labor relations, strategic planning, grants and acquisition, facility management, environmental compliance and safety, personal property, fleet vehicle management, and administrative processes.
The Center's Operations, Management, and Information Division is also responsible for the center's public affairs, constituent affairs, media relations, technical editing and publishing, research libraries, and library services. Oversight of the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, a research and public display aquarium, also lies within this division.
Branches
Budget & Finance Branch
The Budget and Finance Branch is responsible for the Center’s budget and finance, procurement, and grants activities.
Facility Operation & Safety Branch
The Facility Operation and Safety Branch is responsible for all facilities, safety, security, and environmental compliance issues.
Research Communications Branch
The Research Communications Branch provides the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's leadership and staff with:
- Comprehensive public affairs support
- Professional editorial services
- Library services
- Graphics and social media services
- Woods Hole Science Aquarium management
More Information
Our Leadership
Garth Smelser
Chief, Operations, Management & Information Division
Before coming to the Center, Garth served as Forest Supervisor of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Previously he worked at the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest in Washington. Garth completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the United States Naval Academy in 1995 after which he served as a Naval Flight Officer for eight years. He received his Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii in 2003.