Message from the Director

Fellow NOAA Corps officers,

Last Friday, CAPT Michael Levine, Commanding Officer of the NOAA Corps Officer Training Center, had the honor of swearing in BOTC 136 in New London, CT. Although I was able to call in via video conference, talk to the new ensigns, and watch the swearing in ceremony, I let CAPT Levine conduct the ceremony so as to not introduce another individual into the group. It was satisfying to see over 25 family and friends call into the Google Meet event to watch them take the oath of office. The opportunity to deliver the oath to the future of the NOAA Corps is one of the best privileges of the CPC Director's job and I was disappointed I could not do it. It was still educating and inspiring to get acquainted with the newest members of our Service and discover how they learned about and what motivated them to join the NOAA Corps. The NOAA Corps recruiting force (at CPC and in the field), CPC staff, and selection board members all contribute a tremendous amount of work to find quality officers and execute their accession to service. The ability to bring onboard the best and brightest is only accomplished through this organizational commitment. Thank you all.

Congratulations to the following men and women on their commission:

Alexis P. FergusonStuart, FL
Wesley J. FrieseRiva, MD
Michael R. FultonPittsburgh, PA
Tyler D. HallSeattle, WA
Skyler C. JordanColumbus, OH
Allegra R. MennitiPittsburgh, PA
Emily J. RuhlMohnton, PA
Ian A. SearlesDubuque, IA
Jonas S. VeazeyDallas, TX
Brianna R. VillalonCorpus Christi, TX

Directors signature
CAPT Devin Brakob, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

On the Horizon

05 Aug 2020 Officer Assignment Board: O-4/O-5 Shore Assignments

Approved Resignations, Separations and Retirements

LT Nikita Manougian 01 Aug 2020
CDR Mark Blankenship 01 Oct 2020
CAPT Devin Brakob 01 Nov 2020
LTJG Sara Wood 01 Dec 2020

Promotion News

It is with great pleasure that CPC announces the promotion of LTJG Taylor Krabiel effective yesterday, July 23, 2020. Congratulations on your well-deserved advancement.

Action Required for Officers Assigned to Ships and on No-Cost TDY due to Pandemic

No-cost TDY orders for those away from ships due to the pandemic must be sent to the NOAA Corps Payroll Unit at noaacorps.payrollunit@noaa.gov. The orders must include an endorsement (may be self- endorsed) documenting the start of the TDY period. Effective day 31 of TDY, officers are no longer eligible to collect Career Sea Pay. Submission of these orders will be used to make necessary corrections to avoid or limit overpayments. Upon return to the Permanent Duty Station, officers must complete the endorsement and forward to the NOAA Corps Payroll Unit to effect the Career Sea Pay entitlement again. Please direct any questions to Katherine Raymond at Katherine.raymond@noaa.gov, or 301-713-7732.

Family Separation Allowance (FSA)

Officers entitled to and claiming Family Separation Allowance (FSA) may send the approved FSA form to the NOAA Corps Payroll Unit showing the date the ship departed homeport to start immediate and continuous payment. Or, officers may submit the FSA document when the ship returns to homeport and the FSA will be paid in a retroactive lump sum. Please direct any questions to the NOAA Corps Payroll Unit.

Officer Assignment Board: O-4/O-5 Shore Assignments

An Officer Assignment Board (OAB) for O-4/O-5 shore assignments will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 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.

From the Assignments Desk: American Samoa/South Pole Station Chief

The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) is holding interviews for the 2022-2024 American Samoa/South Pole Station Chief in September 2020. GML operates four remote Atmospheric Baseline Observatories strategically positioned around the globe. The long-term datasets collected at these observatories track atmospheric constituents that drive climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, and baseline air quality.

The officer selected for this billet will train in Boulder, Colorado for six months before spending one year in American Samoa running atmospheric monitoring instruments, managing observatory facilities, and completing administrative tasks necessary to operate the station. The officer will then return to Boulder, CO for additional training before spending one year at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica running a similar suite of instruments at NOAA's South Pole Observatory, coordinating shipping logistics, and assisting with other station duties.

This billet provides independent, self-starting, adventurous individuals with the opportunity to live in the tropical South Pacific, experience six months of light and six months of darkness in Antarctica, and will have the opportunity to earn the Chief of Party Pin, International Service Ribbon, Arctic Service Medal, and Antarctic Service Medal - all within one billet.

Interested officers should update their billet preferences and send their biographies and resumes to Christy Schultz at christine.schultz@noaa.gov no later than 1 September 2020. Phone interviews will be conducted in September.