Ruth L. Perry serves as the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Ocean, Fisheries, and Polar Affairs in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
In this position, she helps to advance U.S. economic and national security interests in the ocean, fisheries, and the poles. She is responsible for policies, programs, and global engagement that ensure blue economic prosperity and sustainable management of ocean resources, promote cooperative international ocean and polar policy, and advance maritime security and navigation rights.
From 2014-2025, Dr. Perry worked in the energy sector overseeing permitting and development of global exploration and production projects and as a marine scientist. In this capacity, she led ocean technology and innovation partnerships to support safe and responsible offshore energy production and progressed domestic and international policies to promote the modernization of ocean and environmental regulations and science for ocean impact assessments.
Dr. Perry holds a Ph.D. in physical oceanography from Texas A&M University focusing on natural and anthropogenic forcers influencing coastal hypoxia formation in the Gulf of America. She holds degree certificates in geospatial analysis, remote sensing, ocean observing, and statistics. She holds a master’s and undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M in biological oceanography and biology, respectively, focusing on physical environmental factors affecting stranding rates of coastal and oceanic ecotypes of marine mammals.