Fellow NOAA Corps officers,
I hope this message continues to find everyone and their families safe and adapting to this current health crisis. Please be safe and take care of your family and yourself as well as helping to take care of your community.
Selection boards went well last week and I look forward to announcing the results in a future Cyberflash. Spending a full week with senior NOAA Corps officers reviewing a large group of officers' records always reinforces how important it is for individuals to actively manage their career to set themselves up for success as well as to make the NOAA Corps a better service. While it is important for each officer to take responsibility for his or her own career, CPC has a valuable asset you can utilize in the Officer Career Management Division (OCMD). With that being said, the incoming Chief of OCMD, CDR Ryan Wattam, reported onboard last Monday and CPC is grateful to have his expertise on the team.
CDR Ryan Wattam has 14 years of NOAA Corps service, having held shore billets in NOS, OMAO, and NESDIS. He has completed tours aboard NOAA Ships Gordon Gunter (JO), Oscar Elton Sette (OPS), and Ronald H. Brown (XO). CDR Wattam maintains an open-door policy and believes that CPC should maintain a strong customer service focus for the NOAA Corps officers we serve. In that light, he is looking forward to helping officers advance their careers by helping to identify professional development opportunities, offering constructive feedback, and providing insight into processes such as promotions and assignments. He looks forward to speaking with you about how you can grow as an officer in the NOAA Corps and is available for
one-on-one career counseling.
Welcome aboard CDR Wattam!
CAPT Devin Brakob, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
| 03 Jun 2020 | Officer Assignment Board |
| LT David Reymore | 13 May 2020 |
| CAPT Elizabeth Kretovic | 01 Jun 2020 |
| CAPT David Zezula | 01 Jul 2020 |
| CDR Nicole Cabana | 01 Jul 2020 |
| CDR Justin Kibbey | 01 Jul 2020 |
| LT Nikita Manougian | 01 Aug 2020 |
| LTJG Tyler Fifield | 17 Aug 2020 |
Pic: Simulator
|
BOTC 135 will continue in Middletown, RI, at the United States Maritime Resource Center, through May 5th. The class recently completed coursework in Shiphandling, ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid), and Intro to Watchkeeping. With all exams completed, the fleet's newest ensigns are getting as much simulator time in as possible during their Bridge Resource Management class.
With the impact that COVID-19 and social distancing is having on everyday life, you may be unsure how to get the care you need for any medical concern. Whether you're dealing with an ankle sprain or a sore throat, you can use the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line and get health advice from a registered nurse anytime, at no cost, from the comfort of your home.
To learn more, read the article.
In the face of a global pandemic, individuals are connecting even more so through their smartphones. A mobile app on their device may offer a way for those in in the uniformed services to cope with the changes to their daily lives brought on by COVID-19 and in the future, the challenges of serving in uniform.
To learn more, read the article.
An Officer Assignment Board (OAB) for O-4/O-5 shore assignments will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. The OAB will be prepared to look at potential O-4/O-5 officers and assignments up to 18 months from now. If you are due to rotate to a shore/ground assignment in the next 18 months, please ensure your assignment preferences are up to date, discuss potential assignments with the appropriate liaison officer, and contact the assignment coordinator, CDR Stephen Kuzirian, with any questions at 301-713-7694 or assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov.