Biography

An alumna of the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography (Ph.D. ’01) and a biological oceanographer for more than 25 years, Paula Bontempi is a professor of oceanography at GSO and served as the school’s dean from August, 2020 to June 2025.

Prior to joining GSO, Bontempi worked at NASA for 18 years as a program scientist for a large number of Earth observing satellite missions. She served as acting deputy director at NASA’s Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate of NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where she provided leadership, strategic direction and overall management for the agency’s entire Earth science portfolio, from technology development, applied science and research to mission implementation and operation. Previous to her appointment as acting deputy director, Bontempi was a physical scientist and program manager for ocean biology and biogeochemistry at NASA Headquarters.

Before joining NASA, Bontempi was an assistant professor of oceanography in the University of Southern Mississippi’s Department of Marine Sciences.

Bontempi served as a member of the NASA Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Independent Study Team, a co-Chair of the NASEM study on Future Directions for Southern Ocean and Antarctic Nearshore and Coastal Research, and on the Leidos Climate Change Strategic Council. She is a Fellow and President Elect of The Oceanography Society and is from Upper Saddle River, N.J.