Dr. Steven Murawski is the Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor for NOAA Fisheries Service, a position he has held since May of 2005. In addition to these duties, he was selected to be the NOAA Ecosystem Goal Team Lead in January 2006. As Goal Team Lead, Dr. Murawski is responsible for out-year strategic planning and budget development for all of NOAA's ecosystem activities which amount to $1.2 billion in 2008. Currently, Dr. Murawski works to move forward ecosystem approaches to management both at NOAA and in conjunction with other federal agencies and international bodies. Prior to this, he was the Director of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology. His research background is in fisheries biology, population dynamics and stock assessment.