What lies beneath the surface? For NOAA Corps Rear Admiral Ben Evans S95 (Williams ’96), that question has defined a career—and it’s one with sweeping implications for everything from global shipping routes to coastal planning and climate resilience.
This spring, Ben—Director of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey and yes, the actual U.S. National Hydrographer—stopped by Williams-Mystic and met with a visiting Williams College Environmental Science class spending the day on the coast. Ben shared insights from his career in the NOAA Corps and his present role overseeing the mapping and charting of US coastal and ocean waters.
Hydrography, he explained, is the science of measuring and describing the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers—particularly the depth (or bathymetry) and shape of the seafloor, as well as currents, tides and other water-related conditions. Mapping our nation’s waters ensures safe and efficient marine transportation, provide foundational data to drive science and stewardship on our oceans and coasts and helps enable the estimated five trillion dollars generated by US ports each year.
NOAA’s mapping teams collect data from small boats, aircraft and survey ships. Their work supports safe maritime commerce, ecosystem protection, and climate adaptation—at home and around the globe. “Mapping the seafloor isn’t just about navigation and commerce—it’s about everything from deciding where to build sea walls to restoring wetlands,” Ben told students. “From where we build ports and sea walls to how we respond to sea-level rise, hydrographic data helps guide smart, sustainable decisions.”
Standing along the Mystic River estuary, Ben reminisced about his own Williams-Mystic science project on the same river in the spring of 1995–he is a member of the Williams class of ’96, where he majored in physics. He is often asked for advice from college students considering a NOAA or ocean science career. “I emphasize that, beyond STEM coursework and experience, we need leaders with the ability to see connections between their work and the priorities of others outside their disciplines,” he explains. “The integration of Williams-Mystic curriculum across ocean science and policy disciplines in an immersive environment helps create these knowledgeable leaders.” He continues, “WM students have the problem-solving skills to help build a sustainable, prosperous and secure future for our coastal communities.”
In an era of rising seas and shifting coastlines, Ben’s insight offered students a firsthand look at how science, policy and public service intersect—and how learning what’s beneath the surface can help build a more sustainable future above it.