The federal government has asked the U.S. National Committee for the Ocean Decade to identify cross-cutting themes that incorporate promising and innovative research concepts. These themes are based on the body of submissions to the call for Ocean-Shots and align with the overall goal of the UN Ocean Decade in supporting ocean science for sustainable development. The committee also connected the themes to established U.S. ocean priorities. The themes identified by the committee will address compelling areas for public and private sector investment and provide opportunities for inter- and multi-disciplinary activities in support of ocean science.