The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is being designed and implemented to provide data and information needed to address seven societal goals related to (1) climate, (2) maritime operations, (3) natural hazards, (4) homeland security, (5) public health, (6) marine ecosystems, and (7) living marine resources. The operational objective is to achieve these goals by providing more timely and accurate assessments of the state of marine systems and predictions of changes in state. Operational capabilities from observations to models are more advanced for those goals that only require physical oceanographic and meteorological observations (goals 1-4) and less advanced for those that also require biological and chemical oceanographic observations (goals 5-7). Thus, building and improving an integrated system that routinely and continuously provides quality controlled data and information in support of decision making for all seven goals will require considerable investment in science and education and timely, effective synergy between advances in science and the development of operational capabilities. A major objective of the IOOS is to facilitate synergy between the development of operational capabilities and advances in scientific understanding of oceanic and coastal environments and their impacts on socio-economic systems. To facilitate synergy between research and improvements in operational capabilities, the IOOS includes a spectrum of activities from operational elements to research, pilot, and pre-operational projects. Research and pilot projects represent the research and development end of the IOOS. Transition from a pilot project to pre-operational status is a major step, and it is one that must be undertaken through collaboration between research and operational communities with the support of the organization that will integrate the new capability into to its operational systems. Describing a rational procedure for linking research and operational activities and developing a more integrated approach to how research and operational data streams are used is one thing. Implementing them is another. Needed now are government policies and procedures for doing so - from adopting standards and protocols required for interoperability to the formulation of budgets for operational activities in concert with budgets for research intended to improve operational capabilities.