Mr. Louis Brown served as an oceanographer on the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) in 1963.From 1969 to 1991 he became active in a wide range of IOC and IOC-related activities and was advising the US Government on issues before the IOC until his retirement in May 2011. Mr. Brown worked on the text for amendments to the IOC Statutes and Rules of Procedure that were adopted by the IOC in 1971. In the early 70ies he helped to develop scientific plans for the International Decade for Ocean Exploration; the Long-term and Expanded Program of Oceanic Research and the Global Investigations of pollution of the Marine Environment. He was a key player in the Working Group on the Future Role and Functions of the Commission. In the mid-70ies he participated in the Committee on Climate Change and the Oceans. During 80ies Mr. Brown served on and played leadership roles in a number of IOC regional programmes such as WESTPAC, IOCINCWIO CINECA and SEATAR. He also worked closely towards the end of this period and into the 90ies with the Scientific Steering Committee for the World Circulation Experiment.