Fellow NOAA Corps officers,
I'm writing my final CPC Director's Message with a sense of sadness, a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of excitement for my next chapter in retirement. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to serve my country in the uniform as a Navy officer as well as a NOAA Corps officer. It was difficult taking the uniform off the first time after 10 years in the Navy and I imagine it will be even harder the second time having had the chance to serve NOAA and OMAO for the past 18 years. I was asked at a CPC webinar last week by a junior officer how do you know when it is time to resign or retire from the Service. My answer touched on the ideas of personal reasons and opportunities, professional reasons and development, family situations, and ended with the vague and cliché answer of "hopefully, you'll just know it’s time."
I want to thank the senior officers and civilians along my career that mentored me and shaped my career as well as offering valuable advice and camaraderie. Some supported me along my career, some offered opportunities to succeed and grow, and some helped me gain confidence through self-awareness. I would also like to recognize the NOAA Corps junior officers that I have worked with over the last 18 years. I would not have been able to succeed in my career without the support, work, and energy provided by those junior officers with whom I have served. It is your energy, professionalism, skill, and dedication to your jobs that help create our success. I encourage you all to continue setting high personal and professional goals and to persevere until you achieve them. You are the future of this organization and I look forward to following your careers and all of the successes I know you will encounter.
It has been a privilege to lead such a great team here at CPC which is critical in keeping the uniformed workforce of NOAA operating. This small group of officers and civilians work consistently to address the human resource concerns of active duty and retired officers, to ensure that we operate our NOAA Corps legally, and assure that the needs of our Service are met daily while also looking out for the officers and striving for parity with our fellow uniformed services. Over the past two years, we have met many challenges and improved our processes along the way. Without this dedicated staff it would not be possible. Job well done Team CPC!
CAPT Chad Cary will be taking over as the CPC Director next Friday. He comes to CPC with a multitude of experience and skills that will serve CPC and the NOAA Corps well. I will let him introduce himself formally next Cyberflash but want to say welcome aboard CAPT Cary!
I have had so many unique, challenging, and exciting opportunities and experiences over the last 18 years and feel fortunate to have found the path to the NOAA Corps. While there have been many stressful and challenging situations over my NOAA Corps career, I feel lucky to have had a job I always enjoyed and looked forward to every day. I wish everyone at NOAA, OMAO, and the NOAA Corps a satisfying and rewarding future, both professionally and personally. You are all true stewards of the Nation.
CAPT Devin Brakob, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
| 05-15 Oct 2020 | Virtual REFTRA 89 |
| 07 Oct 2020 | O-4/O-5 Shore Assignments - Officer Assignment Board |
| 08 Oct 2020 | BOTC 136 Billet Night |
| ENS Wesley Friese | 06 Oct 2020 |
| CAPT Devin Brakob | 01 Dec 2020 |
| LTJG Sara Wood | 01 Dec 2020 |
| LCDR Ryan Wartick | 01 Jan 2021 |
BOTC 136 and OCS Class 1-21 will hold Billet Night on Thursday, October 8, 2020. It will be viewable via live stream at https://uscga.live/OCS121-BOTC136 starting at 1830. Please feel free to tune in to watch your newest NOAA Corps officers and their USCG shipmates learn what their first assignments will be!
The extension for individual medical readiness requirements has ended, with the exception of dental requirements. Medical Affairs would like all officers to obtain their physical examinations, as required, if it is safe to do so.
Officers do not have to prioritize dental. Given the increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, and the very low rate of oral health issues within the NOAA Corps, Medical Affairs is recommending that individuals only obtain dental care if they deem it safe, and necessary.
As your Medical Affairs team watches national COVID-19 trends closely, we are acutely aware we may have to reimplement another readiness extension later in the year, or into 2021. Please plan accordingly for scheduling medical appointments, and anticipating your readiness deadline. Every effort should be made to send Medical Affairs current medical documents, before returning to an operational safety-sensitive work environment.
Please, if you are currently in quarantine, or sheltering-in-place, please do not disregard these protocols, to obtain an evaluation for medical readiness.
Medical Affairs will remain adaptable in our approach to readiness, with your health and safety as our priority. Please contact us, if you have concerns about your deadlines, or if you have any concerns about obtaining a physical examination.
If readiness documentation has been submitted, please do not submit this documentation again. Medical Affairs is currently working to review and update the database as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.
Remember to submit readiness documentation via your OPF and all other medical documentation via Kiteworks.
In recent months, CPC has analysed the diversity within our workforce and has developed a draft plan to bring in a more diverse group of highly qualified applicants. We know many of you share our dedication to this effort, and are eager to see what CPC has in the works to address diversity in the NOAA Corps. To that end, OCMD will be hosting a webinar on October 16, 2020, to brief out our plan, field any questions or concerns, and let you know how you can help. The webinar will be hosted via Google Meet, and the calendar event is linked below:
When: October 16, 2020 from 1230 - 1400 EST
Webinar invite link: NOAA Corps Diversity Recruiting Webinar
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Please be advised of improved visibility of the SGLI Online Enrollment System (SOES) in milConnect. After hearing that Servicemembers were having difficulty locating the SOES link in milConnect, VA Insurance worked with Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) to have milConnect updated to increase the visibility of this benefit. This change went live September 29, 2020. SOES offers Servicemembers:
There has been an increase to the lodging portion of temporary lodging allowance (TLA) OCONUS to 100 percent for a single member or one dependent, effective October 1, 2020.
Currently, TLA for one person is computed at 65 percent for both lodging and meals and incidental expenses (M&IE). When the percentage was established, it accounted for a practice of charging a single room rate and a double occupancy rate in the hotel industry. Modern industry practices no longer have a single room rate and typically, 65 percent of the locality per diem lodging rate will not cover the cost of a hotel room for one person. OCONUS members did not experience the financial impact of this shortfall because on-base Temporary Lodging Facilities (TLFs) could provide a reduced lodging rate for single members. However, in November 2019, OCONUS TLFs were privatized, and many raised lodging rates to the full, locality per diem rate. This increased the number of members disadvantaged by the current lodging percentage rate.
If you have any questions please contact Jerrard Baker at 301-713-7728 or jerrard.baker@noaa.gov.
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) Program is looking for a dedicated and motivated Lieutenant Commander to assume the responsibilities of the Project & Action Officer in Silver Spring, MD. This billet is an outstanding opportunity for any officer looking to challenge themselves and grow professionally. The billet can be tailored to meet the officer's career development goals and interests. IOOS is a small office that feels like a family. We strive to be a modern workplace and ensure employee satisfaction. As a small office we pride ourselves on accomplishing big goals through our diverse partners.
As Project & Action Officer, the incumbent will have the opportunity to lead and support efforts such as:
Project Management and/or Contracting Officer Representative experience is desirable, but not required and can be sought as part of the assignment.
IOOS' mission is to lead the integration of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing capabilities, in collaboration with Federal and non-Federal partners, to maximize access to data and generation of information products, inform decision making, and promote economic, environmental, and social benefits to our Nation and the world. It accomplishes this through supporting a wide array of environmental sensors, ranging from water level and meteorological stations and buoys, data from oceanographic vessels and gliders, to animal telemetry records. It also supports and funds partner operations from governmental, NGO, educational, and private sector organizations.
Officers interested in the billet should contact LCDR Benjamin LaCour at benjamin.lacour@noaa.gov, and the NOS Liaison Officer, CAPT Benjamin K. Evans at benjamin.k.evans@noaa.gov.