Rusty Brainard
Passionate interdisciplinary ocean scientist committed to science-informed ecosystem-based management and conservation of our marine ecosystems that sustainably balances ecological wellbeing and human/societal wellbeing.
- Role
- Advisory Board Member at International Sustainable Resilience Center
- Location
- Kaneohe, HI, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Rusty Brainard
Dr. Rusty Brainard has 44 yrs of experience as a marine scientist/oceanographer leading applied research on marine ecosystems, biodiversity, oceanography, fisheries, and climate change to inform ecosystem-based management and conservation. Rusty served NOAA in various leadership capacities for 38+ yrs, including 21 yrs as a NOAA Corps Officer and 17 yrs as founding Chief of the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, where he led an interdisciplinary team of ~65 scientists in conducting habitat mapping, assessment and monitoring, and applied research to support management/conservation of coral reef ecosystems across the Pacific Islands. From 20••••22, Rusty served as Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer for Red Sea Global, where he was responsible for ensuring the environmental sustainability of all aspects of The Red Sea and AMAALA regenerative luxury tourism development projects along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. From 20••••25, Rusty served as VP of Ocean, Climate and Fisheries Sciences for @Orchard LLC supporting NOAA. In 2025, Rusty founded R Ocean LLC to contribute to meaningful positive impacts for people and planet. Concurrently, Rusty serves as: Courtesy Professor of Marine Science in the Red Sea Research Center at KAUST; Environment & Biodiversity Advisor for TLC Harmony; and consultant for Resonance Global and @Orchard. Rusty holds a BS in Marine Science from Texas A&M and MS/PhD in Oceanography/ Phys. Ocean. from the US Naval Postgraduate School. Rusty has co-authored >160 scientific publications citations). Some highlights include serving as: Chief of NOAA’s Climate Monitoring Observatory at South Pole, Antarctica; ship’s officer aboard NOAA research vessels, including Commanding Officer of TOWNSEND CROMWELL conducting fisheries/protected species research across the Pacific; technical lead for an ecosystem approach to fisheries management for the 6-country Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security; technical advisor for the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project; co-PI for Census of Coral Reef Ecosystems Project of the Int’l Census of Marine Life; advisor for Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network, Global Ocean Observing System, UN Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; advisor to White House Council on Environmental Quality, and US House & Senate Committees; member of Ocean Visions Marine Circular Bioeconomy Task Force; and World Bank advisor for the Maldives Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Technology exploring solutions for climate resilience and adaptation.
Experience
Advisory Board Member
International Sustainable Resilience Center
May 2024 — Present · US
Education
Texas A&M University
BS, Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
1977 — 1981
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Physical Oceanography
1990 — 1994
The United States Naval Postgraduate School
MS, Oceanography
1984 — 1986
University of Washington
Certificate, Project Management
1992 — 1993
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