A couple of weeks ago I volunteered for my sons' school's "Teacher Appreciation Lunch." As part of the preparation, I was searching through "teacher quotes" online and came across this:
I was struck by the awesome responsibility described and how any occupation, not to mention a family member, could replace "teacher" in this quote and it would still ring true. Parents, leaders, athletes, first responders – we are all a "decisive element" to those we encounter on a daily basis. It is a daunting realization that someone is always watching our behavior and modeling it, learning from it, admiring it or frustrated by it. This does not mean that we can't have bad days. In fact, learning from the adversity faced by others and their response to it, is a valuable lesson as well. Employees need to see their supervisors disappointed; a child needs to see an adult struggle with frustration – in doing so they learn what it takes to be resilient. We all need to accept that it is perfectly okay to make mistakes; it's how you handle the aftermath that matters. Disappointment, frustration and dropped passes are a part of living. We can control very little in life, but remembering that there are people looking up to us makes it a little easier to care about and control the climate we create and how we act every day.
Please note, I wrote most of this before the tragic school shooting which took place on February 14th. Seeing the heroic actions of the teachers during that event only highlights their importance to our world, and our need to support and appreciate all kinds of teachers everywhere.
Be kind to yourself and those entrusted to your care.
CAPT Anne K. Lynch, NOAA
Director, CPC
| 17 May 2018 | BOTC 131 Graduation |
| RDML Anita Lopez | 01 Mar 2018 |
| LCDR Jennifer Pralgo | 01 Mar 2018 |
| LT Daniel Rees | 30 Apr 2018 |
| CAPT Amilynn Adams | 01 Jun 2018 |
| CDR Nathan Hancock | 01 Jun 2018 |
| LCDR Lyndsey Davis | 01 Jun 2018 |
| CAPT Robert Kamphaus | 01 AUG 2018 |
| LT Jessica Senzer | 10 AUG 2018 |
| LCDR Brian Prestcott | 01 Nov 2018 |
In 1947, the Coast and Geodetic Survey was on the cusp of the computing revolution. As the C&GS was responsible for aeronautical charting and related products, Geodesists Charles Whitten and Lansing Simmons, a former C&GS commissioned officer, were tasked with producing airline distances between 492 United States cities. To accomplish this task with human "computers" would have taken approximately 10 to 12 human-years to accomplish. Instead they contracted to IBM to accomplish the computations using algorithms and tables devised by Simmons. IBM supplied punch card technology and, although electronic computers were in their infancy, electro-mechanical machines were used. Approximately 2,500 cards were hand-punched with city codes and latitude-longitude values. These cards had to be checked and double-checked for accuracy as their values were the basis for all subsequent computations. Another 500,000 cards were machine-punched based on the C&GS supplied algorithms (by comparison, 1 million cards were punched for the computations on an early electronic computer related to the hydrogen bomb a few years later). The various machines used in the computation process were a sorter that could handle 24,000 cards per hour, a reproducer that could handle 6,000 cards per hour, a multiplier that could average about 1,000 cards per hour, and a tabulator that could handle approximately 5,000 cards per hour. Ultimately all distances were computed each way and the computed distances punched on separate cards and compared for possible error. In spite of checking, the greatest source of error was found to be in the original hand-punching of the basic data (perhaps the old saying about garbage in - garbage out originated here). Whitten noted that "Punched card methods are being applied more and more to scientific and engineering computing. Many of the larger computing projects of the C&GS could be processed by punch cards now, and with the development of larger and faster machines by IBM, the time is approaching when it will be more economical to process these data by this modern method." The 120,000 computed distances can be found in Air-line Distances Between Cities in the United States, on-line at ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/cgs_specpubs/QB275U35no2381947.pdf. Incidentally, the project took only six months to complete.
What's the difference between the National Response Deployment Medal (NRDM) and the National Response Service Ribbon (NRSR)?
NRDM:
NRSR:
Please note that hardware for both the NRSR and NRDM is still in production. CPC will mail out all approved award packages with hardware once it has been received.
The following embroidered command and qualification insignia are available for order from the US Coast Guard Uniform Distribution Center. Refer to the UDC stock code below when placing your order.
| Command at Sea: | NOAABBSOCAS |
| Deck Officer/Senior Watch Officer: | NOAABBSODO |
| NOAA Aviator: | NOAABBSOAVI |
| NOAA Diver: | BBSONOAADIV |
Are you using the most updated form? The NF 56-63 form (Recommendation for Award) was recently updated – while it still looks exactly the same, the new version was greatly reduced in size. Be sure to download the latest version from the CPC website here: http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/forms/pdfforms/noaaform_56-63.pdf
Please check your OPF and ensure your OER information is correct. Promotion board is looming closer and it is imperative your OER's are posted correctly. Verify the following:
Please refer to Cyberflashes dated 27 May 2016 and 07 April 2017 for more information.
Remember it is the officer's responsibility to ensure their records are correct and if there are any discrepancies, please contact us at oer.cpc@noaa.gov.
We are a month into the new Blended Retirement System and it is good to see that people have taken the time to figure out what is best for them. A good percentage of the Corps has opted in and will begin receiving matching contributions to TSP this month.
Now that BRS is active, here are a few reminders and clarifications:
Please reach out to CDR Jeff Shoup, at chief.careermgmt.cpc@noaa.gov, if you have any questions regarding BRS.
Released by RDML M. T. Bell Jr. Commander, Personnel Service Center. The Service Center for our most important resource - Our People.
The NESDIS is looking for a motivated officer to take on the responsibilities of XO in the Satellite Products and Services Division (SPSD).
NOAA has recently launched new state of the art environmental satellites and will soon launch more in 2018. During this exciting time for NESDIS and NOAA, the SPSD User Services Team is the front line for users of NESDIS satellite data. The officer will be an active member of the SPSD User Services Team.
The officer will gain experience in risk management, customer service, COOP and safety activities, and interagency coordination.
This assignment is expected to be vacant around October 2018. Officers interested in this assignment should update preferences, and contact the incumbent (kelsey.e.jeffers@noaa.gov) and the Assignment Coordinator (assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov).
Learn more about the newest NOAA satellites at https://www.goes-r.gov/ and http://www.jpss.noaa.gov/.