Thomas R. Crane
Deputy Director
tcrane@glc.org

Tom Crane joined the Commission staff in 1986 and has more than 25 years of Great Lakes research/policy experience. Since 2008, Crane has held the position of Deputy Director of the Commission. As such, he is responsible for a variety of administrative, financial and programmatic functions within the organization. Crane also served as Interim Executive Director (2005-2006), Resource Management Program Manager (1990-2004; 2006-2008) and Natural Resources Program Specialist (1986-1990). Crane has program development, staff oversight and co-management responsibilities for numerous distinct projects including the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, the Great Lakes Tributary Modeling Program and the Great Lakes Regional Water Use Database.

Crane has also served as a member of the Michigan Sea Grant Policy Committee, the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Nonpoint Source Strategy Team, the International Joint Commission’s Advisory Group on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review Public Consultations, and the Great Lakes Futures Roundtable. He was founding member of the Michigan State Section of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) and served terms as board secretary and board treasurer with the organization.

Before joining the Commission, Crane’s previous work included positions with the Great Lakes Basin Commission, NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and several years of NGO experience in Virginia and Missouri where Crane directed two citizen environmental groups. Crane holds a bachelor's degree in Natural Resources and a master's degree in Water Resources Management from the University of Michigan.