THIS PROPOSED NATIONAL CONFERENCE BUILDS UPON THE PREVIOUS CONFERENCES AND WILL BRING TOGETHER BOTH SEA GRANT AND LAND GRANT EDUCATORS AND SPECIALISTS TO EXPLORE COMMON PROGRAM BONDS AND WAYS TO COLLABORATE PROFESSIONALLY TO ENHANCE THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES OF BOTH.THE 2017 NAEC WAS HELD FROM JUNE 5TH - 9TH AT THE RIVERSIDE HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER IN BOISE IDAHO. PARTICIPANTS (70 REGISTERED) CAME FROM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES. FORREST WYNNE (KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY) AND GARY FORNSHELL (UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO) SERVED AS CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS. THE NAEC WAS SUPPORTED BY THE USDA-NIFA AND NOAA SEA GRANT FOR A TOTAL OF $39,000. UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES MANAGED CONFERENCE LOGISTICS WHICH INCLUDED SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ROOMS, REGISTRATION, MEALS, PROCEEDINGS, CONFERENCE PRINTING AND MAINTAINING THE CONFERENCE WEBSITE.A VIRTUAL NAVEC WAS HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SEA GRANT PROGRAM HELD ON JUNE 8 -10, 2021 IN PLACE OF THE IN-PERSON CONFERENCE CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. EACH DAY CONSISTED OF THREE-HOUR SESSIONS WHERE 18 ABSTRACTS WERE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED. THE CO-CHAIRS MODERATED THE SESSIONS AND APPROXIMATELY 170 PARTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE.