Happy (pre-) Birthday, NOAA Corps!
We will have completed another lap around the sun this coming Wednesday, 22 May 2024, bringing the age of our elite service to 107 years young. In that vein, I encourage you to take a break from your day-to-day sometime in the next week or so and refresh yourself on our history, courtesy of our OMAO / NOAA Corps Recruiting website. It’s remarkable to think about how decades and indeed centuries of our predecessors lived and navigated through their respective periods in U.S. and global history. Always connected via a combination of technical and scientific skills with predispositions to service and leadership, we have provided incalculable positive impacts on the commerce, security, and defense of our nation through numerous wars, economic cycles, and tumultuous socio-political times.
As we look hopefully and confidently to the future of our service and agency, I find it important to reflect on how our service got to where it is today, including the efforts and sacrifices made by all those who went before us. So as we celebrate this upcoming 107th birthday, I encourage us all to also be mindful of the holiday weekend to follow, when we remember those in our Armed Forces, and by extension some in our own service and its predecessors, who have given the ultimate sacrifice in serving our Nation to protect the freedoms we both support and enjoy.
As always, I am both humbled and grateful to serve alongside each of you, and I hope you will continue to take care of yourselves and each other.
Best Regards,
Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
P.S. If you didn’t see it in the last Cyberflash, please take a look at the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium opportunity below; there are still funds available to cover the $495 registration fee, and officers are encouraged to sign up and attend!
| 5 Jun 2024 | Officer Assignment Board |
| 23 Jul 2024 | BOTC-144 begins |
| 5-30 Aug 2024 | Summer REFTRA |
| CAPT Nicholas Chrobak | 01 Jun 2024 |
| CDR Briana Hillstrom | 01 Jun 2024 |
| LTJG Brianna Villalon | 01 Jun 2024 |
| LT Kyle Cosentino | 30 Jun 2024 |
| LT Jacquelyn Putnam | 01 Jul 2024 |
| LT Julia Waldsmith | 01 Aug 2024 |
| LCDR David Wang | 16 Aug 2024 |
| CAPT Daniel Simon | 01 Sep 2024 |
| CDR Paul Hemmick | 01 Sep 2024 |
| LT Brandon Tao | 01 Sep 2024 |
| LTJG Kevin Tarazona | 01 Sep 2024 |
The Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA) Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS) is being held June 25-28, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA. The annual symposium is the largest gathering of U.S. uniformed service women worldwide. The four day event is focused on providing an opportunity for service members to focus on leadership and mentorship development and provides unique access for networking with fellow service women and their service leaders. Additionally, the symposium provides an unparalleled opportunity for service leaders by affording them access to and feedback from women in the uniformed services in both joint and service specific settings.
The Commissioned Personnel Center is excited to announce the availability of registration cost funding for a limited number individuals to attend on a first come, first served basis (travel funds are not provided). Women and men in the uniformed services and federal civilians dedicated to SSLA’s mission are invited to attend. This year's theme is "Strength Through Service," and the last day to register is June 20, 2024. If interested, please contact LCDR Cherisa Friedlander (cherisa.l.friedlander@noaa.gov) and LCDR Andy Reynaga (chief.noaacorps.recruiting@noaa.gov) for additional information on the symposium and registration funding.
After an almost two-year hiatus, the DC Association of Commissioned Officers will be holding a Dining Out in September 2024! A Dining Out is a traditional formal ceremony that welcomes guests to celebrate the camaraderie of our service. It is a great opportunity to spend time with colleagues and their loved ones outside of work. You do not need to be stationed in the DC area to join, and all officers, retirees, and their families are welcome to attend.
Email noaacorpsdcaco@gmail.com if you are interested in being part of the planning committee. Make your opinions heard!
When a member separates from the NOAA Corps, they are allowed eighteen (18) months after their separation date to maintain access in the Direct Access system. The separated member must submit a Customer Care Service Ticket, guidance provided on the PPC website. The member’s request should include Name, Employee ID, Date of Separation, request for Resetting of Password, and request for the 18 months of access to Direct Access to retrieve any documentation needed.
Please note this end-of-service access period provides a LIMITED ACCESS level when compared to features that are available when a member is on active duty.
Officers are reminded that all OERs with an end of period-of-report date after May 1st, 2024, are required to contain language that records completed augmentation days. Instructions are contained in OMAO Policy 1212 - Commissioned Officer Augmentation. For exempted cases, a reason is not required; simply state "Officer was exempt from augmentation requirements," in accordance with the policy and to conserve OER comment space.
CPC will begin invalidating OERs with end of report dates on or after May 1st, 2024, that are missing the appropriate statement. Supervisors can navigate to the Marine Operations Augmentation List to view how many days their officer has accomplished within the past 12 months.
As officers work towards accomplishing augmentation requirements, ship Commands are encouraged to approve and encourage the use of leave. The augmentation policy and new availability system are having great results in identifying and connecting augmentation needs with available officers. This system should be extensively utilized by all ships to ensure proper relief for the health and well being of their wardroom.
As of May 15th, of the 31 active augmentation needs, only 4 are not addressed (and there's still time to fill those needs). This exciting accomplishment is unmatched in recent years - BZ to everyone for getting out there and supporting the fleet!
Total available Officers to augment: 65
Officers that have met all of their obligations: 14
Officers that have met most of their obligations: 14
Officers that have met some of their obligations: 18
Officers that have no obligations met, but have trips planned: 5
Officers available to augment with no days accomplished: 14
Billet #7216 is moving from Silver Spring, MD to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Beaufort Laboratory in Beaufort, NC, and is seeking a Junior Officer entering their first shore assignment. Current rotation is July 2025, but the report date is flexible. The NCCOS Scientific Support Specialist works with a group of NOAA scientists engaged in seafloor and habitat mapping to inform coastal management and research. The officer will plan, prepare for, and conduct mapping efforts across a variety of NCCOS projects, developing strong skills in geospatial data analysis and visualization. This assignment provides frequent opportunities to sail as a scientist on both ship and small boat platforms– often conducting ROV and AUV operations. By contributing to a number of different projects within NCCOS, the officer will refine skills in operational planning and management.
Please contact LTJG Karina Urquhart (karina.urquhart@noaa.gov) for more information.