Mr. John Woods

USN International Engagement Office (IEO)
OPNAV N94/ONR-G

The Polar Regions present unique challenges to Power and Energy systems. From single warfighter to large unit levels, the requirements for stable and reliable power sources are critical to mission success. No other battlespace provides this set of challenges such as extreme cold weather, constant darkness, and a brutal climate. The high latitudes are a seldom visited AOR that needs future capabilities attention. The U.S. Department of Defense has developed a 25 Year Memorandum of Understanding with partner nations in order to improve defense and security capabilities in the Polar Regions. The International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research (ICE-PPR) is the vehicle for this collaboration. Ultimately, the goal is to improve respective conventional defense and security capabilities through the application of emerging technology, while having a common need for Polar RDT&E to satisfy common operational requirements. The underlying theme of this work is a shared desire for strong cooperative relationships that preserve safe, stable, and secure Polar Regions.
 

Mr. John Woods is the Deputy Director for the U.S. Navy’s International Engagement Office, responsible for bilateral and multilateral cooperation with our Allies and Partners. John is a native of Lavallette, New Jersey. Attending the United States Naval Academy, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Oceanography. He completed his Master of Science in Meteorology and Operational Oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate School.  John served for over 12 years on active duty first as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard USS Cleveland (LPD-7) and then as a Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Officer. In his civilian career, John started as a contractor supporting NASA’s Earth Science Division, as the project manager for Operation IceBridge, a global airborne science mission deploying to both North and South Polar regions. Following his time with NASA, he accepted a U.S. government civil service position as a physical scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) assigned as the Snow and Ice Product Area Lead at the U.S. National Ice Center in Suitland, MD. In 2018 he transitioned from NOAA to his current role supporting the Chief of Naval Operations as the Deputy Director for the U.S. Navy International Engagement Office.
 

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