Good afternoon, NOAA Corps Community,
I had the distinct opportunity earlier this week to visit our NOAA Corps Payroll team in Topeka, Kansas, and with them the multitude of Coast Guard support staff at the USCG Pay and Personnel Center (PPC). A highly productive and enlightening trip, I was there to champion our hardworking team with USCG PPC leadership, learn more about the payroll portion of the CPC Director’s portfolio, and gain some insight into how NOAA and USCG pay systems and processes interface for all NOAA Corps customers (myself included!). Supporting a total of 142,000 customers, including 62,000 retirees and annuitants, PPC handles over $5 billion in payroll, travel, and numerous other human resources management functions through its four divisions and 12 branches, all with a staff of 225 uniformed and civilian personnel.
While there is much to digest and consider as we think about the NOAA Corps customer experience now and into the future, I can initially share that through-and-through, there is no shortage of heartfelt passion for service member support at PPC, and our payroll team (Carol Holley and Ron Cunningham) is no exception. As around 95% of CPC’s budget flows through USCG PPC, I have committed to them and to you my unflinching support as we examine the end-to-end payroll process from pre-accession, into active duty service, and through separation/retirement. USCG PPC Leadership and I are eager to continue the conversations we’ve started, and we look forward to honing in on both shorter and longer term goals and actions to continually improve our systems and processes toward more seamless, efficient, and superior customer service.
Through this exciting time, I ask that you please continue to pass on kudos and constructive feedback to CPC as you deem appropriate. And, as always, please be kind and take care of yourselves and each other.
Best Regards,
Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
P.S. Don’t forget to vote for our very own RADM Hann, who is a finalist for the prestigious People’s Choice “Sammie” Award!
| 02 Aug 2023 | Officer Assignment Board |
| LT Alexandria Andonian | 30 JUN 2023 |
| LT Nathaniel Park | 01 JUL 2023 |
| LTJG Logan Dodson | 01 JUL 2023 |
| CAPT James Crocker | 01 AUG 2023 |
| LTJG Stefanie Coxe | 01 AUG 2023 |
| CDR John Rossi | 10 AUG 2023 |
| LT Christopher Dunn | 25 AUG 2023 |
| CDR Patrick Didier | 01 SEP 2023 |
| LT Conor Maginnn | 01 SEP 2023 |
| LCDR Hadley Owen | 30 SEP 2023 |
| CAPT Michael Levine | 01 OCT 2023 |
| CAPT Edward Van Den Ameele | 01 OCT 2023 |
 Photo Credits: LTJG Kait Brogan |
Last week, R/V Manta conducted its first-ever underway helo evacuation training. Manta crew teamed up with USCG Air Station Houston, Moody Gardens Aquarium dive safety officers, as well as science partners at Texas A&M to conduct the drills. This evolution left all participants better prepared for emergency response as much of Manta's work is conducted in the remote stretches of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuaries.
 Photo Credits: LTJG Kait Brogan |
 Photo Credits: LTJG Kait Brogan |
 Photo Credits: LTJG Kait Brogan |
An Aviation Advisory Board will convene this December to recommend officers for initial flight training. Start dates for flight training will be determined based on the needs of the service. Previous flight experience is not required for this opportunity, however it is highly encouraged and will help applicants determine if aviation is a desirable career path. Time in Service will not be limited for the purpose of this candidate selection and selected applicants will incur an Active Duty Service Obligation of six years. In order to compete in the upcoming NOAA Corps Aviation Selection Process, you must:
For questions about NOAA aviation careers and the application process, contact LCDR Alan Hough (aoc.chiefadmin@noaa.gov). For questions specific to medical requirements and USCG Class I flight physicals, contact CAPT Joe Newcomb, USPHS, (joseph.newcomb@noaa.gov) or (863) 500-3991.
The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) is seeking an enthusiastic officer (O1-O3) to serve aboard R/V Bay Hydro II (BH2) as Junior Officer in Charge (JOIC). The BH2 is a 57' hydrographic survey vessel whose primary operational area encompasses the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays with responsibilities to the major ports of Norfolk, Baltimore, and Delaware. In addition to updating nautical charts for safe navigation, testing new or experimental survey equipment, the BH2 is a primary response vessel for maritime emergencies requiring underwater search following events such as hurricanes, groundings, downed planes, and sunken boats.
Officers can expect to gain operational experience in ship handling, logistics and planning, in addition to honing skills in survey acquisition, processing, and deliverables. This role provides the ideal training environment for officers seeking an OPS assignment on any hydrographic survey ship and/or advanced degree programs funded by OCS. Officers report as JOIC and directly report to the Officer in Charge (OIC) with the expectation of fleeting up to OIC around the halfway point of a three year assignment.
Interested officers completing a tour within one year of December 2023 should contact LTJG Carly Robbins, at carly.robbins@noaa.gov; the NOS liaison technical assistant, LCDR Bart Buesseler at bart.o.buesseler@noaa.gov; or the assignment coordinator at assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov to learn more.