Dr. David Adamec has worked as a physical oceanographer at NASA since October 1988. At NASA, Dr. Adamec focuses his research toward demonstrating the utility of satellite data to understanding the dynamical mechanisms that control the variability of the ocean's circulation. In particular, the research focuses on the use of data from multiple satellite platforms to explain ocean circulation mechanisms that are not understandable from a single satellite sensor.

Dr. Adamec has experience using several tools common to ocean research including innovative data analysis techniques, and constructing and using computer simulation codes of the ocean circulation. Dr. Adamec worked as a physical oceanographer for the U.S. Navy from 1978 till 1988. During his time at NASA, he managed NASA's Physical Oceanography Program for nearly four years, and served as head of the User Working Group for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's ocean data distribution facility for two years. He is currently a member of the science team for the TOPEX and JASON altimeter missions, studying how small scale ocean circulations drive the large scale flow, and the Carbon Cycling Program, leading a study to determine the variability of the exchange of carbon dioxide between the ocean and the atmosphere. He is a member of NASA's Space Architect Committee, which devises the agency's long range plans for developments in space. He has over 25 refereed publications in the professional literature. Dr. Adamec has appeared in hundreds of television interviews on all major networks discussing various topics relevant to NASA's earth science program. He has also served as the technical consultant for an ocean exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and a children's book on El Nino.