Terry D. Garcia
Executive Vice President for Mission Programs, National Geographic Society
PHILADELPHIA, 2006 - Terry D. Garcia is Executive Vice President for Mission Programs for the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest scientific and educational institutions with nearly 10 million members. He is responsible for the Society’s core mission programs: the Committee for Research and Exploration, which has funded the work of such notables as Admiral Robert E. Peary, Sir Edmund Hillary, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the Leakey family and Dr. Robert Ballard; the Expeditions Council; the Conservation Trust; the Explorers-in-Residence Program; the Contributing Photographers-in-Residence Program; the National Geographic Education Foundation; the Society’s Development Office; the National Geographic Museum; Geography Competitions; and the Arts Media Program. Garcia is a member of the Society’s Executive Management Council, Senior Editorial Committee, a trustee of the Society’s Education Foundation Board, and a member of the Committee for Research and Exploration and the Conservation Trust.
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age
of the Pharaohs
Photo courtesy of National Geographic Traveler
Prior to joining the Society in 1999, Garcia was the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In this role he directed and coordinated U.S. coastal, ocean and atmospheric programs, including the National Ocean Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the National Weather Service and the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service.
At NOAA since 1994, Garcia managed and directed the agency’s ocean and atmospheric programs, including recovery of the endangered species, habitat conservation planning, Clean Water Act implementation and the development of the national marine sanctuary system.
From 1994 to 1996, he was NOAA’s general counsel. In that capacity he led the implementation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Plan for Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.
Prior to entering government service, Garcia was a partner in the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles. He represented financial institutions in all aspects of their operations, including federal and state regulatory and legislative issues, corporate and securities matters, mergers and acquisitions, bank operational matters and enforcement and administrative proceedings. Garcia has extensive experience in regulatory and supervisory issues affecting foreign and domestic banks, bank holding companies, savings institutions and non-bank providers of financial services. He also advised and counseled corporations, nonprofit organizations and political campaigns on state and federal election and campaign law.
Garcia currently serves on the National Academy of Science study panel examining the feasibility of an international ocean exploration initiative. He is also a member of the National Academy of Public Administration’s study panel examining the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Born in Jacksonville, Fla., Garcia received his bachelor’s degree in international relations at the American University, Washington, D.C. and his law degree (with honors) from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
An avid fly fisherman and scuba diver, Garcia has spent many hours hiking, fishing, camping and exploring the U.S. coastal and inland wilderness areas.
Garcia lives with his wife Mary, and their two children, in Washington, D.C.