by Caol Pérez, with support from Joe Selmont

We celebrate the remarkable career of Kevin O’Brien, who retired after nearly 35 years of service at CICOES. Before embarking on his scientific journey, Kevin worked in Alaska at a salmon cannery, which speaks to his strong work ethic and sense of adventure. From there, he pursued his passion for science, earning opportunities that eventually led him to the University of San Diego and, later, to the University of Washington.

Over the years, Kevin became an integral part of CICOES and NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Labora-tory, where he contributed to the Data Integration Group and played a key role in advancing ocean observation systems. As Vice-Chair for Data and Information for the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Observations Coordination Group (OCG), Kevin helped shape global strategies for ocean data sharing and integration, leaving a lasting impact on the scientific community worldwide.

His career represents not only scientific excellence but also a deep commitment to teamwork and innova-tion. As we honor his career, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and warmest wishes for the next step in Kevin’s journey.

Our interview with Kevin has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Q: Over your 30+ years with UW, what major changes have you seen in marine science, especially where it overlaps with your expertise in data science?

A: The idea of free and open data, and the introduction of the FAIR data principles, were two major shifts in the data landscape. Historically, PIs were quite protective of the data they collected in order to prevent them-selves from being “scooped.” But, as people realized these data were collected using public money and that the data could be valuable for other efforts, there was increased pressure to make data freely available at a more rapid pace. I would guess that the fears of being “scooped” were also not really warranted. I also think we are on the brink of discovering how AI can improve (hopefully) data management and workflows.
Another innovation was the introduction of auton-omous platforms to observe the ocean. This has led to data opportunities and challenges that we are still working on today, as there has been a massive increase of in situ data volumes. This is due not only to the increased frequency of observations, but also the sheer number of sensors on these platforms.

Q: Do you have any standout memories or projects from your time at UW?

A: Through the support of NOAA Global Ocean Moni-toring and Observing (GOMO), I was fortunate to find myself as part of an international effort to improve data flows of the global in situ networks. This work was done through GOOS and the OCG. In fact, I was the first GOOS vice-chair for data when I was selected as the OCG Vice-chair for Data and Information almost a decade ago. Through this work, I was able to develop an OCG Cross-Network Data Implementation Strategy, which is being implemented now, and also be part of the team that developed the data strategy for the UN Ocean Decade. Working on this effort has allowed me to positively impact the data efficiency of the global in situ networks.

Another highlight was the development of the Open Access to GTS project, which made it easier for anyone to access and exchange data with the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Tele- communications System (GTS). The GTS is how data is exchanged in near-real time to support operational activities such as forecasting and safety of life at sea. However, the GTS is a closed system, and extremely difficult to navigate. The Open-GTS project highlighted ways to improve this process, and illustrated where the choke points were. Since this project, the WMO has launched their WIS 2, which shares many of the same principles that I piloted with the Open-GTS project. The project was selected as an endorsed activity of the UN Ocean Decade, and will continue after I leave CICOES.

Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention SOCAT, the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas. Through the last decade, we’ve integrated a data submission system that has allowed SOCAT to be annually released, and provide a combination of submission and quality control tools for scientists and technicians. SOCAT is the data product that is the heart of the newly emerging Surface Ocean Carbon Reference Network (SOCONET). Working with the SOCAT community has been incredibly rewarding, as it’s one of the first projects I’ve been involved in that both data managers and scientists came together to develop a data system that was useful for both. I can-not overstate how important this was to the success of SOCAT and the idea of a SOCONET.

Q: You’ve accepted a new position in Europe. (Very cool!) What will you be working on there, and what excites you most about it? More broadly, where do you see the field of marine science heading in the years ahead?

A: I will be the Technical Coordinator for the Surface Ocean Carbon Reference Network (SOCONET), which is an emerging global in situ network of the GOOS. I will be working to ensure that SOCONET is integrated into the GOOS and the GOOS monitoring center, Ocean-OPS. Technically, I will be an international civil servant working through the WMO, but I will be located at the OceanOPS headquarters at IFREMER, the French insti-tute for ocean science in Brest, France.

As for marine science in the future, I can’t really say, but I do know it will be data-heavy and it will continue to be incredibly important to implement data flows based upon known standards and conventions. Machine-to-machine data exchanges will be the norm, and more and more data will start coming in from nontraditional
sources. There is a lot of work to do, but we have to ensure that data adheres to the standards that can make all of this happen efficiently and effectively.