Welcome to CPC, CDR Andrew Colegrove - Chief, Officer Career Management Division

Earlier this week, CPC welcomed CDR Andrew Colegrove as the new Chief, Officer Career Management Division. CDR Colegrove joins the CPC team following his completion of a successful tour of duty as the Commanding Officer of NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter.

CDR Colegrove completed a turnover with the outgoing Chief, OCMD CDR Ryan Wattam last month, has hit the ground running, and is meeting the challenges of this assignment head on. A big "Thank You" to CDR Wattam for his dedicated service as the OCMD Chief and support to the NOAA Corps Community. Also, a "Thank You" is owed to LCDR Joe Carrier for dual-hatting both the Chief, OCMD and Assignment Coordinator roles over the last six-weeks.

If you have any questions for CDR Colegrove or wish to have a chat, please reach out via the Chief, OCMD e-mail account chief.careermgmt.cpc@noaa.gov or call at 301-713-7748 (desk) or 951-202-3656 (cell). For the Chief, OCMD calendar, please use andrew.colegrove@noaa.gov.

From the Recruiting Office: New NOAA Corps video

A few months back, the Recruiting Branch requested your input as we plan a new NOAA Corps video. Thank you for for your sincere and professional submissions. Your voices have been heard and our team is working to incorporate your ideas into the project. As expected, there was a resounding interest in showcasing operations. While we intend to utilize professional videographers on site when opportunities permit, we are also interested in collecting video from the fleet. This will help kick-start and develop the desired narrative before the field season begins to come to a close. At this time, we are welcoming any new footage, or existing content, that meets the guidelines below. Coordination through the ship or aircraft Public Affairs Officers is preferred, if possible. Please send videos to brandon.baylor@noaa.gov.

Policy/Privacy concerns

• Corps personnel must be in correct uniform
• Confidential spaces, equipment, documents, and other items should be avoided.
• To protect all sailors’ personally identifiable information, be mindful of documents containing identifiable information such as ID cards.
• Space in the background should be properly stowed for sea, when on deployment, and or properly organized for fire safety, personnel safety, chemical safety, etc.
• Personnel who may be photographed should be made aware in advance of any filming.
• Filming should never interfere with the mission or compromise safety.
• The videographer should take care to avoid capturing incidental conversations or copyrighted music.

Camera work

• Landscape and portrait oriented shots.
• Keep shot steady - elbows tucked against body.
• Avoid zoom (phone zooms just pixelate the shot - better to crop in during edit).
• Follow through – stay on a shot for 5-7 seconds as opposed to 1-2.
• Lighting - avoid backlight issues (sun behind the photographer).

Content

• Officers being shown in shots is a priority.
• All personnel seen in video should be in the proper uniform of the day and wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment when conducting training and/or normal operations (incl. cover if outdoors, proper ranks, etc.).
• Officers actively performing their duties.
• Officers interacting with non-commissioned crew members.

When submitting still or video pictures, please be sure to include a brief caption (who,what, when, where) and videographer credit in the file name of each clip. Thank you for your assistance. We anticipate working on production with NOAA Studio beginning this fall.

2022 ACO Awards recipients

LT Kyle Cosentino - ACO JOTY Award
Lieutenant Kyle Cosentino is awarded the 2022 NOAA ACO Junior Officer of the Year award for his extraordinary performance and contribution to AOC's operational success in 2022. His diligent commitment resulted in over 495 flight hours, representing over 10% of AOC's total. His exemplary leadership, instructional capacity, and unwavering dedication cultivated a growing cadre of Twin Otter pilots, ensuring seamless progression of novice aviators through initial and upgrade training programs. When faced with an instructor shortage, LT Cosentino navigated the challenge with resolve, leading multiple daily flights, and accomplishing significant upgrading event completions. His leadership in the King Air program was critical for AOC’s future success. As a flight crew leader, he executed 100% of tasked Alaska lines during the snow season, providing crucial data in a record snowfall year and contributing to flood risk assessment. As an integral member of the AOC Training Team, LT Cosentino's compassionate leadership and mentorship have played a pivotal role in shaping the development of upcoming aviators. His meticulous scheduling, careful budget management, and innovative use of SmartSheets workflow have led to a significant 75% growth in funded and executed training events. His unswerving dedication, consistent high performance, and remarkable contributions to NOAA are why he is well-deserving of this distinguished honor.

LT Michael Card - ACO Engineering Award
Lieutenant Michael Card is honored with the 2022 NOAA ACO Engineering Award for exemplary service as Operations Officer aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather. Overcoming significant staffing and operational challenges, he led successful hydrographic survey operations, notably securing $155K for the integration of the innovative BoatBot system, and enabling real-world data acquisition from optionally-crewed hydrographic survey launches. Amidst staffing shortages, LT Card built a new Survey Department, successfully onboarded 7 new Hydrographic Assistant Survey Technicians, and developed internal personnel towards their Hydrographer In Charge qualifications, exemplifying his leadership skills. He embraced technological innovation by maintaining licensing for 18 ship workstations and 4 survey launches, integrating a state-of-the-art Starlink wireless internet system. Furthermore, he actively promoted a learning culture through training sessions and his role in the NOAA Corps Junior Officer Advisory Council. LT Card's innovation, leadership, technical expertise, and dedication to the NOAA mission are exemplary, making him a deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.

LT Patrick Debroisse - ACO Engineering Award
Lieutenant Patrick Debroisse is recognized with the 2022 ACO Engineering Award for his pivotal work on Crowd Sourced Bathymetry (CSB) data management and discovery. While pursuing his Master's Degree in Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire, LT Debroisse developed an open-source Python program, VBI Compare, which significantly advanced the processing of CSB. With 50% of the US Exclusive Economic Zone and 76% of the world's oceans still unmapped, CSB is a crucial, yet challenging, data source. LT Debroisse's VBI Compare addressed these challenges, collating data from disparate databases, improving search capabilities, and visualizing data from multiple sources concurrently. Tested in the Houston Ship Channel, VBI Compare was 89% faster than manual methods, collecting 70 times more National Bathymetric Source data tiles, enabling more accurate results. Moreover, the program automates CSB quality analysis, saving time and effort for hydrographic agencies. LT Debroisse's groundbreaking work, of interest to hydrographic offices worldwide, contributes significantly to ocean mapping. His efforts bring credit to himself, NOAA, the NOAA Corps, OCS, and the Joint Hydrographic Center, and could greatly enhance OCS's data pipeline. For his innovative and impactful work, LT Debroisse is a deserving recipient of the 2022 ACO Engineering Award.

LTJG Trevor Grams - ACO Engineering Award
Lieutenant (junior grade) Trevor Grams is awarded the National Association of Commissioned Officers Engineering Award. As Junior-Officer-in-Charge (JOIC) of NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service R/V Gloria Michelle, LTJG Grams exceeded his role by assuming engineering duties, making crucial repairs, and undertaking important improvements, such as a new workstation module and deck hose system. His proficiency in welding and electrical systems not only solved immediate issues like freshwater tank leaks and exterior bulkhead corrosion, but also enhanced vessel safety and efficiency. As the lead on maintenance contracts worth over $200,000, Grams upgraded internet connectivity and integrated a new transducer system. Exemplifying technical competence and dedication, his efforts resulted in an estimated $20,000 in savings and extended the vessel's lifespan by five years. His exemplary service makes him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

APPLY TODAY! FY23 CPC NOAA Corps Recruiting and Professional Development Funding

The NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center (CPC) is happy to announce an exciting FY23 funding opportunity for NOAA Corps officers. In an effort to promote both officer professional development as well as grassroots/in-the-field NOAA Corps recruiting, OMAO and CPC leadership have identified a limited amount of funding that may be designated to support travel, registration, and other related costs for officer attendance at professional development and/or recruiting conferences and related events.

There is no specific list of programs that may be attended, but each event applied for must have a clear nexus to NOAA Corps recruiting and/or professional development. Applications are considered on a first-come-first-served basis, but must be submitted no later than July 7, 2023, so be sure to apply today at this link!

Detail Opportunity - Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Operations

The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Operations is looking for a motivated officer to serve in a 3-4 month detail this summer/fall. The Office coordinates programmatic and administrative activities across the Agency. The selected Officer will be detailed as a Policy Advisor and will support leadership in agency-wide policy formulation and execution as well as assist with management of a broad range of programs and activities. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working on agency operations at the highest level and to form connections across all of NOAA Line and Staff Offices. This detail is also being advertised as a LANTERN opportunity and more information can be viewed via the LANTERN portal: Link (https://openopps.usajobs.gov/tasks/5203)

Interested officers must have documented supervisor approval via memorandum and should submit their interest and supervisor approval to the Chief, OCMD at chief.careermgmt.cpc@noaa.gov. The approximate timing window of the detail is July to December 2023 and it will start as soon as the Officer is selected and available. Please include the timeline of your availability in your e-mail. The deadline for officer applications is July 7th, COB.

For additional information regarding the opportunity, please contact CDR Rebecca Waddington at rebecca.waddington@noaa.gov.

From the Assignments Desk: Billet #0125 – Fleet Environmental Support Manager

Marine Operations Environmental Management Branch (EMB) is seeking a junior officer (O2) to join the team as Fleet Environmental Support Manager in Newport, OR. (FESM Billet #0125).

Are you passionate about environmental stewardship? Do you have a drive to make a positive impact within the maritime industry? EMB has an incredible opportunity for you to join us as the Fleet Environmental Support Manager (FESM). As the FESM, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of shipboard Environmental Compliance Officers (ECOs) and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. The FESM works closely with the Safety Management Branch, collaborating with ECOs to provide guidance, coordinate training, and foster relationships with key agencies and stakeholders. FESM’s manage high profile projects, budgets, and apply project management skills to drive meaningful change. In addition, an FESM is responsible for researching emerging technologies and spearheading green initiatives, making a real difference in NOAA’s efforts to create a more sustainable maritime industry. This high visibility billet is projected to be vacant in mid 2024 and officers rotating between now and December 2024 will be considered.

If you are interested in this opportunity please contact LTJG Eben Smith at fleet.eco@noaa.gov or the assignment coordinator to learn more.

From the Assignments Desk: Billet# 4005: Flag Lieutenant / Aide to National Weather Service Director/Assistant Administrator

The National Weather Service (NWS) is seeking an officer (O-2/LTJG) to serve as the aide or "Flag Lieutenant" to the NWS Director/Assistant Administrator (AA) at NWS headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. As the NWS Director's aide, responsibilities include calendar management, communicating logistics, ensuring details are coordinated in advance, and keeping the AA on schedule. The officer will develop skills in leadership, management, communication, and self-motivation. They will gain an understanding of issues and concerns affecting NWS and NOAA including internal and external partners, executive decision making, budget, and strategic planning. The billet provides an excellent opportunity for the officer to develop and refine skills in management, administration, and project planning. There will be ample opportunities to interact with senior NWS & NOAA leadership and interface with other federal and public agencies. As a member of the AA's staff, the officer will have numerous possibilities for expanded responsibilities, professional development, and enhanced visibility.

The NWS Flag LT must possess impeccable officer bearing, uniform appearance, and be familiar with the NOAA & Uniformed Service organizational customs, courtesies, and protocols. Successful completion of a first sea tour or first operational flight assignment is needed in order to show capabilities of "Leading Self" and familiarity with NOAA missions and NWS products and services.

This billet is anticipated to start around June 2025. Interested officers rotating within 6 months of that time should contact CAPT Michael Levine at michael.levine@noaa.gov or the assignment coordinator for more information.