The NESDIS International and Interagency Affairs Division (IIAD) develops the strategic and sustained partnerships that enable NESDIS to meet our mission goals; advocates for full and open data sharing policies globally, supports the coordination of global Earth observations; and advances U.S. policy abroad.
No one nation alone can effectively monitor the world’s weather, climate, oceans and coasts nor the surface of the sun. IIAD supports US space and US foreign policy; advocates for the full and open sharing of Earth observation data; secures the international and interagency partnerships NESDIS needs to meet our mission cost-effectively and be more responsive to user needs; advocates for science diplomacy, and promotes US scientific leadership and capacity building.
IIAD ensures NESDIS has the partnerships in place to meet our mission needs today and tomorrow, including long-standing partnerships with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), NASA, and the Department of Defense, and advancing new cooperation with partners such as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC). With partners in many countries around the world, IIAD helps position NESDIS as a global leader in Earth observations.
IIAD supports NESDIS engagement in, and leadership of, key international and intergovernmental organizations to coordinate the international exchange of Earth observations, promote open data sharing policies globally, and advance scientific cooperation to understand and address global environmental challenges including global weather forecasting, climate change, ocean and coastal sustainability, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. These organizations include the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS), the multi-party international satellite-based search and rescue system (Cospas-Sarsat), as well as a myriad of United Nations agencies such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Our Leadership
Mary Ann Kutny Acting Director
Ms. Mary Ann Kutny is the Deputy Director of the NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) International and Interagency Affairs Division (IIAD) and also performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Director. IIAD provides strategic leadership and direction for NESDIS international and interagency partnerships, agreements and activities; coordinates international policy interactions with other executive branch departments and agencies; advocates for NOAA and U.S. Earth observation data and space operation policies globally; and coordinates NOAA engagement in multilateral bodies to facilitate NOAA access to global Earth observations and enhance global use of NOAA's space-based observations. In addition, Ms. Kutny serves on the Board of the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, and served as Chair of the International Committee for Remote Sensing of the Environment (ICORSE).
Ms. Kutny has led the development of robust external relationships with domestic and international partners and stakeholders to further NOAA’s mission objectives throughout her NOAA career. She began her NOAA career as a Presidential Management Fellow in the National Weather Service (NWS) International Activities Office, and later served as the NWS Program Coordination Officer in the Office of the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. She continued her efforts to build strong partnerships by leading constituent and stakeholder engagement for NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Prior to her current role, Ms. Kutny served as a Senior International Relations Specialist advancing open data sharing policies and NESDIS international climate activities, coordinating through World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) to meet NESDIS objectives, and developing robust partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region. Before joining NOAA, Ms. Kutny served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.
Ms. Kutny earned her master’s in international relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. She has received numerous awards, including the 2019 Department of Commerce Gold Medal for leading the development of interagency open data sharing principles to advance international scientific cooperation to address global challenges.