Good afternoon, NOAA Corps,
In keeping with the many Thanksgiving messages from various echelons of our leadership team and customer/partner organizations, I’ll try to keep this one short and sweet as we reach Close of Business this afternoon.
First, I want to express sincerest thanks for my CPC team. They’ve made me feel welcome in my first eight months on the job, and I’m ever impressed by the sheer volume and breadth of duties and responsibilities that they take on day-in and day-out. On top of the daily grind, they’ve been challenged and energized with a wide variety of constructive suggestions toward serving the NOAA Corps workforce, and we are all now engaged in prioritizing, developing, and executing plans which will be on our roadmap of improvement for the next several years.
Second, I am thankful for our fellow servicemembers and non-uniformed government personnel (including our colleagues onboard Reuben Lasker and Sette) who are underway or otherwise deployed. While we enjoy the official beginning of the holiday season with friends and loved ones, they are continuing the Nation’s work in support of our national commerce, security and/or defense.
Finally, I am thankful for all of you, my service siblings in the NOAA Corps, both for your support of me and my team over this year, as well as for your enduring commitment to NOAA, our country, and our constitution. I wish you and yours nothing but the best for a Happy Thanksgiving.
With the Utmost Gratitude,
Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
| 4-8 Dec 2023 | Marine Operations Leadership Summit |
| 11 Dec 2023 | Officer Assignment Board |
| 11-14 Dec 2023 | AOC Safety Seminar |
| 16 Jan 2024 | Ops Working Group |
| Apr 2024 (tent.) | Initial Flight AAB |
| LCDR Richard DeTriquet | 30 Nov 2023 |
| LCDR Alan Hough | 30 Nov 2023 |
| LCDR Bryan Begun | 01 Dec 2023 |
| LT Lee Shoemaker | 01 Dec 2023 |
| LT Frank Centinello | 08 Dec 2023 |
| LTJG Samuel Umfress | 15 Dec 2023 |
| CDR Lindsay Kurelja | 01 Jan 2024 |
| LCDR Richard Hetrick | 01 Jan 2024 |
| LTJG Tyler Aldrich | 31 Jan 2024 |
| LTJG Jonas Veazey | 01 Feb 2024 |
| LTJG Gabriella McGann | 15 Feb 2024 |
| LTJG Katherine Mitchell | 20 Feb 2024 |
| ENS Norman Sween | 29 Feb 2024 |
| LTJG John Atnip | 15 Mar 2024 |
| LTJG Cabot Zucker | 15 Mar 2024 |
Congratulations to BOTC 142 on graduating this past Friday, November 17th. The class would like to thank RDML Evans for attending and participating in the ceremony.
Congratulations to the following students on their exceptional performance in various aspects of the program:
| Sea Service Leadership Association Distinguished Honor Graduate (NOAA Corps Officer Candidate who has attained the highest overall performance in Academics, Leadership, and Professional Qualities): | Kathryn Elmer |
| Association of Commissioned Officers Professional Mariner Award (NOAA Corps officer candidate who demonstrated a combined high level of practical knowledge aboard various underway training platforms and maritime core curriculum): | Kathryn Elmer |
| First Command Health and Physical Readiness Award (NOAA Corps officer candidate who demonstrates the highest level of commitment to the HPR program throughout their time at BOTC): | Walburg Wibowo |
| Officer's Family Association Academic Award (NOAA Corps officer candidate who has attained the highest academic average during the course of study): | Kathryn Elmer |
| USAA Leadership Award (NOAA Corps officer candidate who demonstrated the highest leadership qualities during the course of BOTC): | Claudia Berlinn |
| Coast Guard Leadership in Communication Award (NOAA or USCG Officer Candidate whose essays, presentations, and leadership philosophy performance demonstrated excellence in communication): | Ghislan Ngangnang Ngangte |
| ENS Richard T. Rea Memorial Award (NOAA or USCG Officer Candidate who is voted by their peers as most outstanding on the basis of the totality of their performance at OCS): | Amber Porter |
The 7 aviation candidates from 142 are on their way to the fleet while the remainder of the class is sticking around for 3 more weeks of training to conclude on December 8th.
In May 2023, the Director, NOAA Commissioned Corps was granted permission to be included in the Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 1336.01, Certificate of Uniformed Service, and to use the DD-214/215 series. As the Commissioned Personnel Center (CPC) is the issuing office, we are leading the DD-214/215 series compliance and implementation effort. This project has multiple levels of implementation, including updates to the NOAA Corps Directives, training of CPC staff, development of frequently asked questions (FAQs), IT system modifications to map to the new form, and securing the form/data to comply with existing DoD requirements and protocols, such as proper issuance and management. CPC is taking very deliberate steps on behalf of the Director in this program implementation to ensure that the NOAA Corps is in complete compliance with the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness (USD P&R) requirements. For any questions on the impending DD-214/215 series roll-out for NOAA Corps, please contact CPC’s Deputy Director, Mr. Jason Merriweather.
The Executive Committee of National ACO Scholarships, Inc. has issued its annual call to high school seniors and college undergraduates for 2024/2025 academic year scholarship award applications. The two-page application form is available on the “Resources'' page of the NOAA Officer Family Association website (www.nofaweb.org), under the heading “National ACO Scholarships, Inc.” Application forms may also be obtained by contacting either Secretary/Treasurer Captain Dave Peterson, NOAA (ret), by phone (301-233-8090) or email at kmpdhp@comcast.net, or Assistant Treasurer Captain Anne Lynch, NOAA (ret) by phone (401-626-2648) or email at anneknlynch@gmail.com. Complete application packages should be sent to the corporation’s post office address (on the application form) and postmarked no later than Monday, April 15, 2024.
A number of leave forms have recently been submitted to NOAA Corps Payroll that are in some cases more than four months past the date of return from leave. This is a friendly reminder and request to please review your leave for any outstanding forms that have yet to be submitted. Please promptly submit them through your supervisor and then to payroll via HRMS within five business days of leave completion. Without prompt personal leave submission and accounting, the opportunity for leave calculation errors will increase, including the loss of leave. NOAA Corps Payroll thanks you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Many agree that social interaction outside of one’s designated workspace helps promote camaraderie as well as open exchange / discussion of ideas. Additionally, we understand some officers may occasionally find themselves feeling a bit isolated, depending on the day of the week and their office’s telework policy implementation. Therefore, all officers in the Silver Spring area and others interested in enjoying OMAO’s renovated break room / lunch space at SSMC3, 10th floor, are cordially invited to swing by and use this space on their lunch or other mid-workday break. We look forward to seeing you!
Please join the OMAO Medical Affairs team on Monday, December 11, 2023, for a one-hour webinar on the electronic health record, MHS GENESIS. You will learn what functionality it has along with some tips on how to use it. Please fill out this linked Google Sheet with your MHS GENESIS questions, from which the discussion will be tailored. This webinar will be recorded and added to the NJAC Webinar Series folder in Google Drive.
What: NJAC Webinar Series - MHS GENESIS
When: Monday, December 11th @ 1400-1500ET (1300-1400PT)
Who: Targeted to all NOAA Corps Officers
Join with Google Meet: NJAC Webinar Series - MHS GENESIS
Video call link: meet.google.com/hrz-vako-acq
Or by Phone: +1 484-254-6797 PIN: 277 099 712#
The NOAA National Water Center invites junior officers to the Soil Moisture and Snow Survey Program. We seek enthusiastic NOAA Corps officers from maritime or aviation backgrounds for a flexible temporary duty from January to April 2024. The detail can be broken up into smaller segments, accommodating interested officers without disrupting their parent command operations. The ideal candidate is adaptable, an excellent communicator, and a team player
As a sensor operator on the King Air N67RF, you'll handle and maintain remote sensing equipment, playing a key role in environmental monitoring and analysis.
This isn't just a job; it's an adventure in remote sensing and a chance to experience one of NOAA’s most dynamic aviation assignments. Enhance your skills and contribute significantly to environmental research. If you're looking for impactful and unique experiences, join us!
Interested in this unique aviation opportunity? Contact the Officer Assignment Branch at assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov. Shape the future of environmental understanding at the NOAA National Water Center!