Captain Dieter K. Rudolph, U.S. Navy retired, is the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC) Program Director for the U.S. Department of Defense. He is detailed to the Department of Defense under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act from Vanderbilt University where he is a Senior Research Associate. From 2000-2002 he was on detail to the Department of Defense from Villanova University as an Associate Professor. While in the Navy, Captain Rudolph served on a number of ships including a tour as Chief Engineer on a Guided Missile Destroyer and as Meteorologist/ Oceanographer on an Aircraft Carrier. Shore assignments included tours as the Deputy Oceanographer of the Navy, Director of the Naval Oceanographic Office and the Director of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. He retired after 31 years of service and was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal – one of the highest peacetime awards.