BOTC 133 Training Aboard USCG Barque Eagle

Officer candidates from BOTC 133/OCS 2-19 spent 2 weeks sailing aboard the USCG Barque Eagle on a round trip from Baltimore, MD to Savannah, GA. While in Savannah they held an open house during the St. Patrick's Day weekend and saw over 9,000 people tour the ship. On Eagle the officer candidates become essential crew members who do everything from set and adjust sails, work in the galley, make engineering rounds, and stand bridge watch. They practiced skills and applied knowledge from academic classes, built teamwork, and enhanced camaraderie. The trip to Savannah had great weather but they encountered a March storm on the return leg. The ship endured about 48 hours of rough conditions as they sailed north around Cape Hatteras with these stats: max 57 knot wind gust, 25 foot seas, and a max 47 degree roll.

Congratulations to LT Larry Thomas who conned Eagle away from the wharf in Savannah and down the river to open ocean. He did a great job maneuvering a unique vessel - certainly there are none like it in the NOAA fleet!

Promotion News

It is with great pleasure that CPC announces the promotion of the following officers:

Effected April 1, 2019:
CAPT Christian Rathke, USPHS

Effected April 2, 2019:
CDR Rebecca Waddington, NOAA
CDR Paul Hemmick, NOAA

Congratulations on your well-deserved advancement!

CPC Local Knowledge Repository

Have you executed a PCS to an area and learned a few tricks that could smooth the process for other officers? Do you know the least expensive way to register your car in the new state you are stationed in? Have you found a great dentist who participates in the Tricare Prime Remote program? Do you know where to get the best pizza in your duty station area? In other services, a sponsor is assigned to ease incoming members' transition to their new locations. CPC would like to compile your advice and suggestions as a document repository and provide them to officers who are preparing to make a PCS move. If you have useful tips and tricks specific to your locality, please send them to chief.careermgmt.cpc@noaa.gov. We will collect them here and distribute to hopefully ease the transition from one location to another.

Aviation Advisory Board : May 22, 2019

An Aviation Advisory Board (AAB) will convene on May 22, 2019, to make recommendations for AOC's next G-IV and P-3 pilots. In contrast to prior Heavy Aircraft Selection Boards, the upcoming AAB will not have minimum Total Flight Time and Aircraft Commander experience requirements, however, these factors will be taken into consideration. Selections will be made for one G-IV pilot and one P-3 pilot. Rank and time in service, while not limited, will also be factors in the selection process.

By COB, April 23, 2019, all interested officers should submit an email (one-page maximum) to CDR Stephen Kuzirian at assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov, with the following detailed information:

• Explain how your experience and expertise will benefit the programs and missions which the aircraft support
• Aircraft ratings held
• Positions held by aircraft (both AOC and other) and current flight times in those positions
• Any additional information that will highlight your accomplishments, performance, and potential for success as a G-IV or P-3 pilot

Please note, for official boards convened by the Director, NOAA Corps, members will have access to Official Personnel Files. Please ensure that your file and assignment preferences are up to date. Inter-service candidates can submit prior personnel records to CDR Stephen Kuzirian.

Aviators with specific questions regarding this position may contact CDR Brad Fritzler at bradley.fritzler@noaa.gov.

From the Assignments Desk: Billet 6800 – NESDIS/OSPO Mission Operations Division

The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) is looking for an energetic and tech-savvy leader to support the Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO), Mission Operations Division (MOD). The officer will serve in a leadership position at the operational hub of U.S. environmental satellites. MOD operates all 18 U.S. civil and military environmental satellites critical for global weather and ocean forecasting and space weather monitoring from its 24x7 Satellite Operations Control Center. It supports launch and activation of new satellites, operations of the current fleet, and response to anomalies throughout the satellite and ground support system. Beyond satellite command and control, MOD product operation systems ingest, process, and distribute data and derived products to domestic and foreign users including the National Weather Service, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. MOD works closely with Command and Data Acquisition Stations at Wallops Island, VA and Fairbanks, AK, a consolidated backup site at Fairmont, WV, and partner ground stations in places like Svalbard, Norway and McMurdo Station, Antarctica. MOD data operations also include archiving functions in Asheville, NC. Based in Suitland, MD, MOC consists of ~200 federal employees, ~250 contractors, and executes an ~$80M annual operating budget.

Billet 6800 Technical Director, MOD duties include:

• Support MOD Division Manager and Deputy Division Manager in overseeing 24x7 satellite command & control and environmental mission data distribution.
• Support high level reporting of anomalies affecting NOAA mission accomplishment.
• Lead Operations Review Boards, a team of expert operators and engineers, to analyze significant anomalies, formulate solutions, identify resource implications, and track resulting actions.
• Lead formulation and periodic exercise of Continuity of Operations plans.
• Support identification and tracking of issues in a formal Risk Management process.
• Pursue opportunities for professional development in related fields.

This assignment provides unique exposure to the space operations community, and an opportunity to substantially contribute to a forecast-critical data collection mission in NOAA. Space-based capabilities and data are increasing in scope and importance across the military, civilian, and commercial domains. Come join the team and gain the experience to prepare you for the future of operational environmental monitoring. Background in satellite operations, IT systems, or data management are welcome but not required. Excellent team work and good written and oral communication skills are essential. Bring your field operations perspective to one of the most exciting organizations in NOAA.

Commanders and high caliber lieutenant commanders will be considered. The program would like to fill this billet at the earliest opportunity. Interested officers should update their billet preferences and contact the Assignment Coordinator and/or NESDIS Liaison Officer, CAPT Todd Bridgeman, at todd.a.bridgeman@noaa.gov to request additional details about this assignment.