NOAA is the nation 's top science agency for climate , weather , and oceans . As head of NOAA , Lubchenco oversaw a staff of 12,800 employees , a budget of ca $ 5 billion , and ensured NOAA carried out its mission " To understand and predict changes in climate , weather , oceans , and coasts , to share that knowledge and information with others , and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources . " . Lubchenco is both the first woman and the first marine ecologist to occupy the post . During her tenure at NOAA , she helped guide the nation through disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and some of the most severe weather on record . She also oversaw the formulation of NOAA 's first scientific integrity policy , the implementation of Congress ' instructions to end overfishing in U.S. waters by having management plans for every fishery , the restructuring of the program responsible for building the next generation of weather satellites , and assisted with the creation of the first National Ocean Policy for the United States
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Jane Lubchenco