Dr. Paul Montagna Named Director of Texas OneGulf Center of Excellence
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Dr. Paul Montagna, Endowed Chair for HydroEcology at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, has been named director of the Texas OneGulf Center of Excellence. As director and the principal investigator, Montagna will lead the consortium of nine institutions dedicated to the long-term environmental and economic health of both the state of Texas and the Gulf of Mexico.
"Texas OneGulf has done great work since being established in 2015 and I'm looking forward to carrying that success forward and working with our partners to continue to support Texas’ data needs,” Montagna said. “I’m particularly interested in supporting the research priorities of our stakeholders, such as the Texas environmental flows adaptive management process with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas Water Development Board, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department."
Texas OneGulf was established by TCEQ in 2015 following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the passage of the 2012 RESTORE Act in an effort to improve understanding of the Gulf of Mexico’s large marine ecosystem to inform decision making around the challenges to environmental and economic sustainability and its impact on the health and well-being of Texans and the nation. The diverse and interdisciplinary projects spearheaded by OneGulf has positioned the group as an expert information source for Texas decision makers and natural resource managers working to protect the Gulf and its coastal communities.
“The Texas OneGulf Center of Excellence is in great hands under the direction of Dr. Montagna,” said Dr. Greg Stunz, HRI’s Senior Executive Director. “Paul brings a wealth of experience including providing key leadership across many Gulf initiatives. Thus, we are all very confident the Center will continue to do excellent work to further the health of the Gulf of Mexico and the communities that depend on it under his direction.”
The consortium of institutions is led by HRI and includes the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, the Texas A&M University Center for Environmental Health, the Marine Biology and Science and Engineering Departments at Texas A&M University at Galveston, the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group and Dept. of Oceanography of Texas A&M University, the Biological and Environmental Sciences of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine at University of Texas Medical Branch, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment of Texas State University, and the Center for U.S. and Mexican Law at University of Houston Law Center.
Texas OneGulf is guided by an Agency Council comprised of representatives from the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas General Land Office, Texas Water Development Board, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The OneGulf team uses co-production to identify research priorities and produce actionable science.
Those interested in OneGulf’s current projects, the strategic research and action plan, as well as completed research, can find more information on the Texas OneGulf Center of Excellence website: