Holding Fast in Heavy Seas: Leadership for Turbulent Times by Rear Admiral

"A riveting memoir of a life aquatic and an indispensable guide for anyone hoping to learn from the sea's wisdom at a time when its lessons have never been more urgent." -Susan Casey, author of The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean

"A field guide for those who want to learn how to remain true to those principles when the pressure to do otherwise is at its peak." -The Honorable John Kelly, general, US Marine Corps (Ret.), former secretary of homeland security and White House chief of staff

After serving for three decades as an oceanographer in the US Navy, Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet was appointed to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) during the turbulent times of the first Trump administration. NOAA is America's top ocean, weather, climate, and environmental agency, and to say that many federal employees were less than thrilled when Trump took office would be an understatement. Finding himself caught up in the "Sharpiegate" incident and other frustrating events caused Gallaudet to wonder if remaining in office was worth the effort, but his decision to hold fast and lead with empathy and humility kept NOAA on an even keel despite the often stormy environment. He applied the lessons from his life and military service to provide positive servant leadership to NOAA, defying the odds and boosting morale and employee satisfaction to record levels.

Drawing from both career accomplishment and personal tragedy, Gallaudet developed and applied a signature leadership approach to connect with employees at every level, making them feel valued and respected. Holding Fast in Heavy Seas provides an inspiring playbook for people of any calling who aspire to improve in their ability to positively influence others.

Author: Tim Gallaudet Us Navy (Ret)
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 07/07/2026
Pages: 372
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.09lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.83d
ISBN: 9798888247952

About the Author
Gallaudet Us Navy (Ret), Tim: - Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (Ret.) served for thirty-two years as an oceanographer on active duty before taking the helm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and serving as the undersecretary of commerce during the first Trump administration. He is currently the CEO of Ocean STL Consulting as well as the host of The American Blue Economy podcast on the American Shoreline Network. He is a regular contributor to The Hill, RealClearDefense, RealClearScience, and the US Naval Institute Proceedings, and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, with masters and doctoral degrees from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Tim enjoys swimming, surfing, and scuba diving with his wife and three daughters.