Leonard Pace

Science Program Senior Manager, Schmidt Ocean Institute

Leonard Pace is the Science Program Senior Manager at Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI). Since 2013, he has led the selection process for interdisciplinary science projects aboard SOI’s research vessels Falkor and Falkor (too). His work at SOI has involved collaborations with over one hundred organizations from around the world, and he is thrilled to be directly engaging with researchers in the southern hemisphere in support of SOI’s next ten years of operations below the equator. He also holds a leadership role with the Ocean Coalition, a joint effort across several of Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s foundations, providing grant support to programs and projects aimed at improving justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in marine sciences. 

Leonard’s work prior to joining SOI concentrated on supporting federal granting and program coordination with the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He received his B.Sc. in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University, and his M.Sc. in Fisheries Biology from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. His primary focus was on elasmobranch physiology and he also conducted research on Great White Shark ecology in South Africa and Naked Dragonfish respiration in Antarctica.