Message from the Director

Good afternoon, fellow NOAA Corps officers,

Thank you to all the officers, families, and friends, who participated in yesterday's virtual pinning-on ceremony that included our new NOAA Administrator, Dr. Rick Spinrad. These are special moments in our careers and I appreciate everyone's support in marking the occasion. In a few weeks we should be welcoming the next round of lieutenant junior-grades and I will make the announcement as soon as I receive notification of the approvals. Combine this with the start of BOTC-138 next weekend and the upcoming promotion boards for Commander and Captain at the end of the month and you can see that July is promising to be one full of activity and celebrations.

That energy on the personnel front is echoed by that of the OMAO leadership team that recently met for its quarterly review. Front and center on the stage for discussion was our, OMAO's, Strategic Plan and the NOAA Corps re-authorization act. Know that the team is full steam ahead on many facets of implementation and I wanted to share one element that has stuck with me from the meeting. There has been a refocused energy on the term of accountability, and more, that of holding ourselves and each other accountable to the job we are doing and the commitments we are making. The point that was made is this: accountability is caring. When we look for a job getting done or a task completed, it is not only that we care about the job/task but more we care about the person completing the job/task. Do not shy away from accountability as this is the demonstration from those around us that what you are doing is important and worthy of your time and effort.

Thank you all for your continued steadfast support of NOAA and the Nation and I wish everyone a happy, and safe, 4th of July holiday celebration.

Stay healthy,

Directors signature
CAPT Douglas MacIntyre, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

On the Horizon

04 Aug 2021 Officer Assignment Board
Early Sep 2021 Command Advisory Board
Early Nov 2021 Aviation Advisory Board

Approved Resignations, Separations and Retirements

LT Michael Silagi 01 Aug 2021
LTJG Sarah Donohoe 31 Aug 2021
LT Danial Palance 20 Sep 2021
CAPT Anne Lynch 01 Dec 2021
CAPT Catherine Martin 01 Dec 2021

Association of Commissioned Officers (ACO) Award Recipients for 2020

CPC is pleased to announce the following 2020 ACO award winners. Please join us in congratulating the following officers for a job well done!

  • NOAA ACO - Junior Officer of the Year Award
    Lieutenant (junior grade) Chelsea Parrish
    In recognition of remarkable accomplishments with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) Marine Mammal and Turtle Division (MMTD) through innovative pandemic mission development and implementation, particularly with respect to center UAS program efforts; furthering NOAA Corps visibility and recruitment through multiple volunteer activities; and alertly and skillfully diffusing and preventing a potentially disastrous major diving incident.
  • NOAA ACO - Engineering Award
    Lieutenant (junior grade) Mason Carroll
    In recognition of innovative efforts with the Aircraft Operations Center as Systems Engineer on cross-line office projects, testing and integrating new survey instruments to further research and operations for current and future missions, and creating process improvements to set up continued center advancements in research and emerging technologies.
  • NOAA ACO - Engineering Award
    Lieutenant (junior grade) Patrick Pope
    In recognition of efforts within the National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA Restoration Center for outstanding application of advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, adding to knowledge of spatial data layers in Puget Sound and allowing for accurate mapping of salmon natal estuary protection. His work resulted in published map layers to the NOAA Geoplatform, advancing Restoration Center research and endangered species recovery efforts for years to come.

Medical Affairs: Covid Vaccination Information

As you are aware, the Director, NOAA Corps made the decision to require a COVID vaccination series to be complete by September 01, 2021. We are incredibly proud to announce that around 90% of the NOAA Corps has been vaccinated. We understand that there is an inordinate amount of information and misinformation regarding vaccinations right now, and it can feel overwhelming. Thank you to those officers who have reached out to us to talk through their own hesitancy or concerns, and then received the vaccinations. Please, if you have concerns about the vaccine contact a medical officer who is happy to answer your questions: noaacorps.medical@noaa.gov.

Please pay attention to the fact that the Director, CPC, will only consider extensions in exceptional circumstances. All exceptions shall be reviewed by the Director, CPC, and those which are medical in nature will be forwarded to Medical Affairs for review. You do not need to reveal the particulars of your medical condition, just state that it is medical, and a PHS Medical Officer will follow up with you to review your request.

Please forward all requests to director.cpc@noaa.gov, and cc noaacorps.medical@noaa.gov if you believe it is medical in nature. These requests should be forward as early as possible in order for the Director to grant each request thorough review prior to the September 01, 2021 deadline.

The Office of Health Services does not have a preference for any vaccine over another, all three vaccines that are authorized for emergency use by the FDA are considered to meet the requirement for our officers.