OSU professor Spinrad chosen to serve as NOAA administrator Tiffany Woods/OSU Rick Spinrad gives the keynote address during Oregon Sea Grant's 2017 State of the Coast conference in Florence. CORVALLIS, Ore. – (KTVZ) -- Richard “Rick” Spinrad, an Oregon State University professor and former OSU vice president for research who lives near Sisters, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The White House announced Spinrad’s selection Thursday. His appointment must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. “I am deeply honored by this nomination,” Spinrad said. “From my days as a graduate student at OSU, I always held NOAA in such high regard for the quality and importance of its work. The opportunity to serve as NOAA Administrator is both humbling and exciting.”