Oceans Law & Policy

Guest Speakers

Spring 2009

Stephen Macko

January 19 & January 20: The Physical Oceans: Geography, Resources, and Oceanographic Processes

Stephen A. Macko is a Professor of Isotope and Organic Geochemistry in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia. His areas of interest include marine organic geochemistry, deep ocean communities, meteorites and the Origins of Life as well as K-12 education and outreach.  He has authored over 250 refereed research papers and books; he was elected a Fellow of the Geochemical Society and of the European Association of Geochemistry in 2003 and is the Corresponding Education Editor for EOS. He received the All University Teaching Award at UVA and was a finalist for the State of Virginia Faculty of the Year award in 2007. Recent projects of his include studies on chemosynthesis at cold seep sites and hot vents using the Johnson Sea Link and Alvin submersibles for sample acquisition; interpretation of ancient human diet; tracking fires and aerosols from sub-Saharan Africa; establishing the geochemical conditions of the Earth prior to the origins of life and pioneering the broadcast of live interactive classes between Africa and the USA.

James Kraska

April 6: Oceans Policy and the Navy

CDR James Kraska is a U.S. Navy JAG, currently assigned to The Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. He has served in a variety of international law positions with the Navy.  While serving in the Navy, he has served in a variety of legal assignments involving treaty negotiation, development and application of the law of armed conflict, counter-drug operations, intelligence law, counter-terrorism, international human rights, UN operations (especially East Timor), international environmental law and law of the sea.

Thomas Kitsos

April 22: Oceans Policy Processes and the Future of Oceans Policy

Dr. Thomas Kitsos is an ocean policy consultant and former Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Dr. Kitsos was the Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy from 2001 to 2004 and retired the next year from a position in the National Ocean Service in NOAA. He currently is a consultant with the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative.  His earlier experience includes six years at the U.S. Department of the Interior, serving as the Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Minerals Management Service. Prior to his tenure at Interior, Dr. Kitsos spent 20 years on the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.  His last position with the Merchant Marine Committee was as Chief Counsel, advising the Chairman on national ocean and coastal issues, offshore energy development, coastal management, and environmental and other marine management legislation.  Dr. Kitsos holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science from the University of Illinois and taught at the University of Colorado.