GOOS is a programme executed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UNESCO, but its success relies on the coordinated contributions of several people and organizations worldwide. The GOOS governance model is divided in three tiers: a multinational Steering Committee to provide oversight, scientific Expert Panels to guide system requirements, and Observation Coordination Groups that implement global unified network execution. The GOOS Project Office facilitates the collaboration between these different governance bodies.