Shepard Smith

Shepard Smith is currently the Chief Technology Officer at XOCEAN and serves as a Board Member for the Marine Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Previously, Shepard Smith was a Commissioner for the Mississippi River Commission from 2017 to 2021, where appointments were made by President Obama, overseeing flood control and navigation systems, and transitioning to a probabilistic risk approach. From 1993 to 2021, Shepard served as a NOAA Corps Officer, culminating in the role of Rear Admiral and Director of the Office of Coast Survey, managing nautical charting and hydrographic surveying for U.S. waters. Key accomplishments include leading the shift from paper to electronic charts and modernizing workflows. Educational credentials include a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, along with an Executive Education Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School.