Captain Brad Kearse is Director of the Commissioned Personnel Center (CPC) for the NOAA Corps. CPC is responsible for providing a specialized workforce to NOAA that has the skills to plan, prepare, and execute the acquisition of environmental and scientific data on the land, at and under the sea, and in the air. CPC, part of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, is a unique personnel system within NOAA. CPC is responsible for approximately 300 NOAA Corps officers and associated human resource activities that include recruitment, appointment, training, assignments, promotion, separation, retirement, and officer entitlements.

Captain Kearse was formerly Chief, Officer Career Management Division, responsible for establishing policies and practices that define and develop leadership. He set the performance standards by which professional development training is provided to NOAA commissioned officers. He was also responsible for the activities at the NOAA Officer Training Center located at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

Captain Kearse has been a Commissioned Officer in the NOAA Corps for 21 years. He has served on NOAA's ships, aircraft, and field parties and in program offices in support of NOAA's aeronautical and nautical charting efforts.

He has served as NOAA Liaison to the United States Coast Guard, Airborne Technology Integration Program Manager for NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center (AOC), and Manager, Aeronautical Survey Program for NOAA's National Geodetic Survey. He served 14 years as an Aircraft and Mission Commander in several NOAA aircraft supporting photographic missions. He was formerly Chief, AOC, Photogrammetry Branch, and Chief, Flight Edit Branch of the National Ocean Service, Aeronautical Charting Division.

During his career, Captain Kearse was part of a group awarded the Department of Commerce Gold Medal (the Department's highest award) in 2002 for technical skills and coordination during mapping of the World Trade Center and Pentagon following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In addition, as Program Manager, Aeronautical Survey Program, Captain Kearse's team was awarded the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal. Captain Kearse also was the recipient of the NOAA Administrator's Award for his leadership achievements. He has received the NOAA Corps Commendation medal as well as numerous other medals and ribbons.

Captain Kearse received a Bachelor's degree in Geology from the College of Charleston and a Masters of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is also a graduate of the NOAA Leadership Competencies Development Program and the Federal Executive Institute. He was an active aviator for 15 years in NOAA and earned his Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Captain Kearse resides in Reston, Virginia, with his wife and two children.