With 38 years in the US Navy – the past eight as the person responsible for overseeing the safe reactor operations of more than 80 nuclear-powered submarines and 12 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers – Admiral Frank ‘Skip’ Bowman knows a thing or two about keeping people safe.

Bowman, former director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, shares what he learned while overseeing the naval reactors for nuclear submarines and carrier fleets — and how he is applying that safety knowledge as a new member of BP's board of directors.

Read more about Bowman's approach to safety and his work with BP. 

Hear about the current state of the Gulf Coast beaches from the people who live there. Following the 2010 oil spill, BP undertook a deep-cleaning of affected areas, and residents report that the beaches are clean and ready for guests. View video of "Gulf Commitment: Beaches." 

Generations of fishermen have made their livelihoods and their homes on the Gulf Coast. They want you to know that seafood -- shrimp, oysters and all sorts of fish -- from the Gulf of Mexico is the most inspected and most tested in the world. The confidence they have in their catch has never been higher, and they want you to try it for yourself. View video of "Gulf Commitment: The seafood." 

Mobile, AL. -- The Senior Bowl announced an extension of the 2012 Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash presented by BP.  In conjunction with the Alabama Seafood and Marketing Commission, the Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash will showcase Gulf Coast seafood, culture and tourism and is designed to maximize the exceptional amount of exposure the Gulf Coast will receive as it hosts the 2012 Senior Bowl on January 28 in Mobile.

The Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash presented by BP began with the 2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl and the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship in New Orleans.

The Bash during the Senior Bowl will include interactive, Gulf Coast seafood-themed cooking demonstrations featuring top chefs from across the region, headlined by Aaron McCargo Jr., the Next Food Network Star and host of Food Network’s Big Daddy’s House, Wesley True of True Restaurants in Mobile, Alec Naman of Naman’s Catering in Mobile, and Haller Magee of Satterfield’s in Birmingham. 

 “The Senior Bowl is excited to partner with BP to highlight the unrivaled seafood and culture of the Gulf Coast,” said Chris Morgan, Senior Bowl Sales and Marketing Director.  "With college football fans across the country turning their eyes toward Mobile, there's no better time to promote the region's seafood and tourism.”

“We're working with the Gulf Coast's seafood and tourism industries to spotlight two of the best things about this unique region,” said Crystal Ashby, BP executive vice president of government and public affairs. “Together, we want to deliver a clear message that the Gulf's beaches, restaurants, fishing and attractions provide unsurpassed vacation experiences.”

Tickets for the 2012 Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket office (151 Dauphin Street), online at www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.

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About the Senior Bowl

The Senior Bowl is college football’s premier senior showcase event, annually featuring the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL coaching staffs. Senior Bowl practices and game week festivities are attended by more than 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 National Football League teams, making Mobile and the Senior Bowl the week-long host to a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention.  For more information on the 2012 Senior Bowl please visit the bowl’s website at www.seniorbowl.com. 

About BP

BP is one of the world's largest energy companies.  In the US, BP has approximately $52 billion in assets and employs some 23,000 staff.  The company's main businesses are exploration and production of oil and gas; refining, manufacturing and marketing of oil products and petrochemicals; transportation and marketing of natural gas.  BP also has a growing renewables business, BP Alternative Energy (http://www.bpalternativenergy.com), focused on wind power and advanced biofuels. For more information, visit www.bp.com.

Studying manatees on Alabama's Gulf coast is part of the day-to-day work of scientists at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. With support from BP's $22 million Recovered Oil Fund For Wildlife, in partnership with the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, their team hopes not just to learn about manatees in Alabama, but to foster their population's growth. View video of "Helping Alabama's manatees".

New Orleans – Two spectacular college football games are in the books and so is BP’s successful Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash.

BP created the event in partnership with Gulf Coast tourism planners as a way to celebrate Gulf Coast culture, seafood and tourism – and to maximize exposure for the area during the Allstate Sugar Bowl and BCS National Championship.

Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash events included celebrity chef appearances by Emeril Lagasse and John Besh who both conducted dozens of national TV interviews to share Gulf seafood recipes and the news that the Gulf is open for business.

“We’re in heaven, the beaches are open and the seafood has never been better,” said Besh to a Chicago reporter.  “It’s all about seafood and tourism for us and the city right now, here in New Orleans – it’s electric.”

Before the BCS National Championship game between LSU and Alabama on January 9, eight top New Orleans chefs prepared a 30-foot “Peacemaker” po’ boy stuffed with Louisiana shrimp and Alabama oysters. On hand for the ceremonial cutting of the po’ boy were Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, as well as legendary quarterbacks Ken Stabler of Alabama and Bert Jones of LSU.

The message of quality seafood and clean beaches is what tourism planners hope visitors will take away from these events and their stay in New Orleans.

“Seafood and tourism are two of the best things about this unique region,” said Crystal Ashby, BP executive vice president of government and public affairs. “By working closely with the Gulf Coast’s seafood and tourism industries, we’ve been able to deliver a clear message that the Gulf's beaches, restaurants, fishing and attractions provide unsurpassed vacation experiences.”

As part of the festivities around both the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the BCS National Championship, BP gave away free samples of Gulf Seafood.  They also provided a “dine around” experience to VIP’s.  See coverage of the "dine around" from WKRG-TV in Mobile.

And while the football games are over, the Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash is giving away free vacation packages with a “text to win” sweepstakes until January 13.  Any United States resident who is at least 18 years old can enter.  Simply text GULFCST to 76060 for a chance to win a vacation to one of these four destinations: New Orleans; Biloxi, MS; Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama; and Pensacola Beach, Florida.

Read complete rules for the text to win sweepstakes.

View video of Gulf Coast Seafood and Tourism Bash.

See photos from the Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash.

In a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago, CEO Bob Dudley reaffirmed BP's commitment to US energy security. Read BP CEO Bob Dudley's speech. 

In 2010, BP donated approximately $22 million to help wildlife recovery and restoration. Known as the Recovered Oil Fund For Wildlife, this fund has not only helped protect endangered sea turtles and thousands of migratory birds, it has provided an opportunity to address long-standing issues in the Gulf ecosystem and help to create a healthier Gulf. Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which administers the fund, explains its mission and how the fund works. View video of Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife.