Terry D. Garcia is Executive Vice President of the National Geographic Society
5/24/2007 :: Terry Garcia is Executive Vice President for Mission Programs for the National Geographic Society. As such he is responsible for the Society's core mission programs including programs which support and manage more than 400 scientific field research, conservation and exploration projects annually. In addition, he oversees the Society's Explorers-in-Residence and Emerging Explorers programs, geography and science education programs, exhibitions and live events. Garcia is responsible for bringing to the United States the popular Tutankhamun Exhibition and the recently launched the Genographic Project which will map the history of human migration.
Prior to joining the Society in 1999, Garcia was the assistant secretary of commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce, and deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. From 1994 to 1996 he was the general counsel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Before entering government service, Garcia was a partner in the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.
He is a member of the board of directors of the Institute for Exploration/Mystic Aquarium and chairman of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s board of trustees. He is also a member of the Ocean Exploration Advisory Panel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. National Committee for the Census of Marine Life and the Advisory Board of the Harte Research Institute of Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University. Garcia has also served on panels convened by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Public Administration.
Garcia received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from American University and his law degree from The George Washington University.
He lives in Washington, D.C.