Message from the Director

Fellow NOAA Corps officers,

I would like to take the opportunity this week to highlight the work and accomplishments of the NOAA Junior Officer Advisory Committee (NJAC) Executive Board as not everyone is aware of the great work this group does. The mission of this group is to communicate with NOAA junior officers and bring awareness of junior officer concerns to senior NOAA Corps leadership. NJAC meets monthly to discuss and work to resolve issues important to officers. A representative from the Board meets with me monthly to discuss progress on initiatives as well as updates on ongoing issues. In addition, the Board briefs the Director, NOAA Corps twice a year.

Highlights of the NJAC for 2018 were:

  • Distributed and completed the Work-Life Balance Survey. This survey provided information on junior officer's work-life balance in the NOAA Corps. A detailed analysis was carried out with results and three critical areas for improvement published in a CPC Director's Message.
  • Created and staffed a NJAC HQ Liaison position to establish continuity and pass important, relevant NJAC information to the Director, CPC.
  • Collaborated with other groups to improve Mess Bill standard operating protocols. New procedure allows NOAA Corps officers to pay their mess bill online.
  • NJAC members interacted with OMAO Health Services to help create a website for NOAA Corps officers to use as a source for various mental health initiatives.
  • Assistance with the new Google documents spreadsheets detailing XO requests for officer augmentation was provided by NJAC Executive Board members.
  • Provided information and insight leading to the OMAO stance that officers separating from the NOAA Corps are eligible for Terminal Leave.

If you are interesting in getting involved in initiatives like these, or have ideas of your own, please reach out to the NJAC Executive Board at njac.execboard@noaa.gov. Guidelines of the NJAC can be found in the NJAC Charter.


CAPT Devin Brakob, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

On the Horizon

22 Jul 2019 BOTC 134 commences
30 Jul 2019 Aviation Advisory Board: Initial Flight Training

Approved Resignations, Separations and Retirements

LT Michael Hirsch 30 Jun 2019
LTJG Daniel Devereaux 31 Jul 2019
CDR Scott Price 01 Aug 2019
CAPT Mark Wetzler 01 Aug 2019
LT Anthony Klemm 09 Aug 2019
LCDR Kyle Byers 15 Sep 2019
LT Shanae Coker 30 Sep 2019
CDR Holly Jablonski 01 Oct 2019
CDR Richard Hester 01 Oct 2019
LT Bennett Singletary 27 Oct 2019
CAPT Michael Ellis 01 Nov 2019
CDR Ryan Kidder 01 Nov 2019
CAPT Barry Choy 01 Nov 2019
CDR John Crofts 20 Nov 2019

NJAC Liaison to the Commissioned Personnel Center

The NJAC Executive Board is looking for a junior officer in the National Capital Region who is interested in becoming the NJAC Liaison to CPC. The officer will meet with the CPC Director on a monthly basis to discuss items brought up during NJAC meetings. The NJAC CPC Liaison position is a 2 hour commitment per month (1 hour NJAC meeting, 30 minute CPC Director meeting, and 30 minutes of meeting preparation) so would need supervisory approval. It allows you to show your dedication to the Service and be the change you want to see in the NOAA Corps! Please email the NJAC Executive Board at njac.execboard@noaa.gov for more information.

Public Health Service Promotion News

It is with great pleasure that CPC announces the selection to the rank of Commander for the following PHS officers assigned to NOAA:

  • Lieutenant Commander Katherine Demers, USPHS (Medical)
  • Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Graham, USPHS (Medical)
  • Lieutenant Commander Ansaruddin Hasan, USPHS (Information Technology)
  • Lieutenant Commander James Jones, IV, USPHS (Information Technology)
  • Lieutenant Commander Joseph Newcomb, USPHS (Medical)

The PHS-wide promotion success rate to CDR/O-5 for 2019 was 22%. The promotion success rate to CDR/O-5 for PHS officers assigned to NOAA was a perfect 100% (5-for-5)! Well done and congratulations to you all!

Ensign and Lieutenant (junior grade) OER Schedule

Officers in the rank of Ensign and Lieutenant (junior grade) have an annual Officer Evaluation Report due on July 31, 2019. Exceptions include individuals who received an evaluation report within 90 days for officers with under 3 years of NOAA Corps service, 180 days for officers with greater than 3 years NOAA Corps service, or if officer is projected to receive a detachment evaluation within the next 90 days. Please submit your NOAA Form 56-6E with the required sections completed along with your list of accomplishment for the rating period to your supervisor no later than 21 days prior to due date. Officer evaluations are not just for promotion purposes, but also an important document for providing feedback. Please work with your rating chain to submit these reports on time.

Billet Description Updates

Starting in July, the Officer Career Management Division (OCMD) will begin working to update NOAA Corps billet descriptions. The first goal will be to transfer any remaining billet descriptions on the old NOAA Form 56-28A to the latest revised version dated 09/25/09. The Assignment Coordinator will be contacting the incumbents of billet descriptions on the old form and provide further details and instructions. The second goal of this project will be to perform an annual recertification on all remaining billets. OCMD thanks those officers who have completed their annual recertification.

Officers can use this link to see if your billet description is on the updated form, and to check if an annual recertification is due by checking the date on page 7 of the billet description. If the annual recertification is due, you can download a blank, fillable NOAA Form 56-28A and begin working with your supervisor and the Line Office Liaison Officer to make any appropriate updates and submit to the Assignment Coordinator for approval. Please contact the Assignment Coordinator at assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov with any questions.

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 heart of U.S. environmental satellites. MOD operates all 18 U.S. civil and military environmental satellites critical for global weather, 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, for example, 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 the most 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 performing 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 Bridgemen at todd.a.bridgeman@noaa.gov to request additional details about this assignment.