Terry Garcia was the Executive Vice President and Chief Science and Exploration Officer for the National Geographic Society for seventeen years and was responsible 
for the Society’s core mission programs, including those that supported and managed more than 300 scientific field research, conservation, and exploration projects annually. Under his leadership, the Society’s science, exploration, and education programs experienced significant growth in both global impact and prominence. In June 2010, he was appointed by President Obama to serve on the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. He investigated the root causes of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and made recommendations on how to prevent future incidents. In 2011, he received Peru’s highest civilian award, La Orden del Sol del Perú, for his role in helping repatriate a collection of ancient artifacts taken from Machu Picchu in 1912. Prior to joining National Geographic, Terry was the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
for the US Department of Commerce and the Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He also served as NOAA’s General Counsel from 1994 to 1996. Terry is currently the President of Exploration Ventures, a company providing strategic advice and counsel to global clients in a range of sectors.