Director's Message

Welcome to the new Cyberflash! In an effort to improve CPC's online resources and accessibility, we have moved Cyberflash to an active webpage. This is a third step in an effort to modernized CPC's online presence; the first being the eRecruit website and the OPF Online reboot in early 2013. In the near future, the new Cyberflash will be accompanied with improved archiving, allowing access to information by topic and date. We also anticipate a revised CPC Webpages in the coming weeks, enabling easier access to information, forms and relevant links. The plan for the new Cyberflash site is to issue a new edition every two weeks and we will continue to send update notices via email. If you have notices, announcements or would like to see information on a particular topic in future issues of Cyberflash, please send a message to Laniece.goines@noaa.gov . Deadlines for submissions are the Wednesday before the next issue.


CAPT Lawrence T. Krepp, NOAA
Director, CPC

On the Horizon

08 Apr 2014EEO Training-Conducting a Barrier Analysis
10 Apr 2014CAWG: Operations Officer Assignments
17 Apr 2014Officer Assignment Board
17 Apr 2014EEO Training-Preventing EEO Workshop Conflict
28 Apr–09 May 2014Mid-Grade Leadership Training
01 May 2014EEO Training-Disability Law and Reasonable Accommodation

Approved Resignations, Separations and Retirements

LT Amy B. Cox 01 April 2014
LTJG Daniel D. Smith 15 May 2014
CAPT Mark H. Pickett 01 June 2014

AWARDS RECEIVED IN MONTH OF FEBRUARY:


NOAA Corps Commendation Medal:

CDR David J. Zezula For sustained superior performance as Chief, Pacific Hydrographic Branch and for outstanding leadership and dedication while acting Commanding Officer on both NOAA Ships Rainier and Fairweather
LT Adrienne L. Hopper For sustained superior performance as Flag Aide to the Acting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator

NOAA Corps Achievement Medal:

LCDR Marc S. Moser For sustained superior performance as Chief, Operations Branch and for outstanding execution of Sandy Supplemental task orders
LT David M. Gothan For outstanding performance as a NOAA Aircraft Operations Center Training Officer, Twin Otter Aircraft Commander, and Puma Unmanned Aircraft System Pilot-in-Command
LT Nicholas C. Morgan For exemplary duty, service, leadership that resulted in numerous Accomplishments at NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center
LT James L. Brinkley For professional achievement in the superior performance of your duties as the Storm Surge Operations Manager at the National Hurricane Center
LT David B. Cowan For exceptional effort in providing significant cost-savings to the National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Right Whale Program and the Aircraft Operations Center, and forging valuable interagency partnership with U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod

AWARDS RECEIVED IN MONTH OF March:


NOAA Corps Achievement Medal:

LT Fionna J. Matheson For sustained superior performance as National Marine Fisheries Service Communications and External Affairs Officer
LTJG Reni L. Rydlewicz For extraordinary service and superior performance in support of communications and team leadership for the newly merged West Coast Region of National Marine Fisheries Service

From the Assignments Desk

Command Advisory Working Group: Operation Officer Assignments
On April 10th a Command Advisory Working Group will commence to discuss fleet wide Operation Officer assignments. This Working Group will consist of Marine Center and Commissioned Personnel Center representatives as well as NMFS, NOS and OAR Liaison Officers, or their designated representative. This advisory board will make recommendations to the Director, NOAA Corps for approval. Any officer anticipating returning to sea from now through January 2016, ensure the following items are completed:

  • Preferences are updated in your OPF prior to April 2nd
  • Any specific/unique assignment requests please submit a memo to Assignment Coordinator via your current chain of command, including Liaison Officer, explaining your request along with how it will benefit the organization and your career.

During this board, officers may also be recommended for other operational or developmental assignments.
A separate email went to all officers that rotate to sea between now and January 2016. If you did not receive an email and feel you should be reviewed during this board, please contact LCDR Amanda Goeller at AssignmentBranch.CPC@noaa.gov as soon as possible.

Officer Assignment Board

On April 17th an Officer Assignment Board will commence. The focus will be Lieutenant Commander and Commanders rotating within 12 – 18 months that do not currently have a forthcoming assignment. This will be my last Officer Assignment Board as Assignment Coordinator and the next one will be scheduled for June 19th. If you fit the above criteria and feel as though your follow on assignment should be discussed during the April 17th board and have not been contacted by me please contact me via email at Assignmentbranch.CPC@noaa.gov or phone at 301-713-7694 as soon as possible.

2014 Promotion Boards-Medical Status

As a reminder, Promotion Boards are approaching soon. Officers are encouraged to review their medical OPF periodically between now and after the selections have been made to ensure that your medical status is still current. The medical OPF provides detailed information regarding the expiration date of your most recent dental examination, periodic physical examination, as well as other diagnostic tests. Officers may submit outstanding items via the medical OPF online or by using Accellion Secure File Transfer. Please contact CDR Hobson-Powell if there are any discrepancies, or if you have any questions about your medical OPF.

Submission of Medical Records to CPC

As a reminder, Personal Health information (PHI) should not be submitted to the Medical Administration Branch via e-mail unless your attachments are encrypted. PHI must be submitted via the OPF online or by using Accellion Secure File Transfer. To activate or re-activate your Accellion account, please goes to https://sft2.doc.gov.

Dental Update

Due to staffing shortages at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) their priority is to support readiness standards for in-house active duty personnel. WRNMMC dental clinic will no longer provide follow-up dental care to NOAA Corps officers. NOAA Corps officers who currently receive services at WRNMMC are urged to utilize the emote Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP) for initial exams with an authorized network dentist.

Dental Services for Family Members

Family members of an active duty service member can enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) which is currently administered by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc. (MetLife). More information regarding enrollment, dental coverage and cost can be found at tricare dental or contact MetLife customer service at CONUS Service Area: 1-855-638-8371; OCUNUS Service Area: 1-855-638-8372; TDD/TTY: 1-855-638-8373

Leave Processing

Immediately upon completion of leave, NOAA officers are required to submit their endorsed leave document to the NOAA Corps Payroll Unit for processing. Once the document has been submitted, please verify the number of days of leave taken on your LES. The number of days is shown at the top of the LES, and the actual dates of leave charged are in the remarks section of the LES. If you have taken leave in a particular month and you have not seen the leave posted on your next LES, please contact payroll as soon as possible to verify that the leave document was received. If leave is taken in conjunction with PCS the leave will be processed when your endorsed PCS orders are processed by payroll.

New Address for Payroll

The Post Office will be closing within the year and may have begun close out procession of some services. Payroll has received email from customers stating that their mail has resulted in being, "Return to Sender" or "Cannot Forward". As a result, please note that Payroll has a new address:
Commanding Officer
U. S. Coast Guard
Pay & Personnel Center
C/O NOAA CORPS PAYROLL
444 SE Quincy Street
Topeka, KS 66683-3591

Requesting Duplicate W-2s from the Coast Guard

Wage and Tax Statements (IRS Form W-2) are mailed no later than 31 January of each year. Lost or missing Wage and Tax Statements should be reported after 15 February. No requests will be processed before 15 February to allow for mail delivery delays. Wage and Tax Statements are prepared after end-month cutoff in December of each year. Mailing address changes must be entered into Direct Access prior to the cutoff for the mid-January computer cycle in order for the forms to be mailed to that address. Refer to Personnel and Pay Procedures Manual (PPPM), PPCINST M1000.2 (series), section 8.B.6, for address format examples for single members living in barracks or shipboard berthing. Members should ensure forwarding of mail through the U.S. Postal Service when there has been a change in mailing address.

Paternity/Adoption Leave

All requests for retroactive paternity and adoption leave are being processed by the Payroll Unit. Several officers have already seen the adjustment, and all adjustments should be completed by April 30. Please direct any questions to Ron Cunningham at ronald.a.cunninham@noaa.gov or 784-339-3497.