Jeffrey L. Payne

Dr. Payne was the fourteenth AGU Congressional Science Fellow, working with Representative Jolene Unsoeld of Washington from 1990-1991.

Dr. Jeffrey L. Payne spent his fellowship year on the staff of Representative Jolene Unsoeld, providing scientific, technical and legislative support for environmental and energy issues.  Following his fellowship experience, he spent three years worked for the Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President.  He served as Examiner for the programs and budget of NOAA involving review and development of agency program, legislative and regulatory requirements; preparation of formal Presidential budget submissions; and coordination and negotiation of issues with interagency, Congressional and non-governmental interests.

Dr. Payne also served as deputy director of NOAA’s Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, in Washington, D.C., with responsibilities for oversight of the NOAA strategic plan and the strategic planning process, and provision of policy, program development and budget support to NOAA leadership and line office administrators.  He is currently deputy director of NOAA’s Coastal Services Center (CSC), in Charleston, South Carolina, where he provides for oversight of operations and programs, and leads the organization’s planning and evaluation processes.

Prior to his career in federal service, Dr. Payne was a research associate of the Geodynamics Research Institute, Texas A&M University, with interests in marine geophysical and geological processes.  He received his Ph.D. in Oceanography from Texas A&M in 1989, has authored over 30 scientific, technical, and policy reports, and spent over one year at sea conducting geophysical and geological research.