Greetings, Colleagues,
I’ll be brief this week as I’m writing to you from the road, both as part of our planned 2024 CPC in-person engagement road trip, as well as the initial data collection effort for the new NOAA Corps physical fitness and nutrition program. We’ve visited four ships and one center thus far, with several centers and as many ships to come as we can squeeze in over the next several months according to in-port schedules. I appreciate all of the warm welcomes and hospitality thus far, and am even more appreciative of the open and candid dialogue being spurred by in-person conversations. Together, we are fostering increased transparency of policy and process while receiving input to incorporate in our work towards continuous improvement.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the near future, and hope you all are having a safe and healthy spring.
Be well,
Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
P.S. We still have funding available for registration fees to the 2024 Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (25-28 June 2024), so please give it your consideration, as all are invited and encouraged to attend one or more days of the event. RADM Hann has been invited to be one of the speakers, and both the Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of the Navy have indicated attendance as well!
| 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 |
| CAPT Eric Johnson | 01 Oct 2024 |
| CAPT Patrick Murphy | 01 Oct 2024 |
Maintaining medical readiness and attending to routine healthcare needs allows each officer the opportunity to document service incurred or aggravated conditions, and promote attention to individual health maintenance and disease prevention.
In that spirit, your NOAA Corps Medical Affairs (NCMA) team will be running reports to audit officer medical readiness in the near future. We respectfully request each officer to review their medical readiness in their OPF, and contact NCMA to flag any discrepancies. Additionally, the Medical Readiness Requirements webpage has been recently updated to assist officers.
Please contact NCMA (CDR Pacia-Rantayo, LCDR Zalno, and LT Jones-Beatty) at noaacorps.medical@noaa.gov with any questions or concerns.
We are pleased to announce that the historic medical records of 236 NOAA Corps officers have been uploaded to MHS Genesis to-date. As NCMA continues to work through the lineal list and upload all historic medical records into the new electronic health record, officers can view and download their historic NOAA Corps medical records using the MHS Genesis Patient Portal under “Whole Health Note.” If an officer notes any missing historic medical records, we request that you submit the records to NOAA Corps Medical Affairs through the MHS Genesis Patient Portal messaging center.
You responded and we listened! The 2022 NOAA Junior Officer Advisory Committee (NJAC) Morale Survey revealed an overwhelming demand for mental health training to be offered to NOAA Corps and all OMAO employees. As a result, the Office of Health Services, Behavioral Health and Wellness program secured FY 2024 funding to offer Mental Health First Aid training classes toward building the mental health literacy of our workforce. Attendees learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction challenges, strategies to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. The course are also provides opportunities to build and practice your own dialogue for use in Mental Health First Aid Situations.
I applaud those of you that have already attended and encourage those who have not to take advantage of the remaining seats still available in future sessions.
For additional information, please see the recent message (Subject: Mental Health First Aid VIRTUAL Training Dates Announced for June, July, August, & September 2024) sent by CDR Sean Bennett, BHW Officer for OMAO, at sean.bennett@noaa.gov.
If you started the End of Year Packet early in the season (Bravo Zulu!) you may not have seen the new guidance for the BAH Dependency data worksheet. Please find the 3 steps listed below to verify your dependent information, and please feel welcome to contact CPC OPMD with any questions.
Note: These steps are only required if you have dependents, if you do not, no action is needed!
Step 1 - Obtain the BAH Dependency Data Worksheet
Log into HR Direct Access, and from the top left hand corner, select "My Homepage". From the drop down, select "Member Self service." From the tiled menu, select "Personal Details" near the bottom right corner. You will see a column menu on the left hand side, and the 4th option down is "BAH Dep Data Verification." If you can't see the full view of the page, hit "New Window" in the upper right hand corner, which will bring up a new page. Select "Generate BAH Dependency Form." You do not need to certify if it is correct or not in Direct Access, this will be done through OPF.
Step 2 - Review your worksheet.
Does it look correct? If so, you're done!
Does it need updates? If so, see step 3.
Step 3 - Send any needed changes via an OPF action ticket.
Log into your OPF, and select "Open Action Request (aka ticket)." From the top menu, select "Payroll." From the second dropdown, select "Basic Allowance for Housing."
Please note on the form what changes are required, and/or write in the text of your submission what changes are needed. Please take care to ensure what you are submitting is correct.
Congratulations! Your BAH/Dependency Data worksheet update for 2024 is completed.
The NJAC Executive Board has completed the construction of a new intranet site! This site consolidates resources for navigating a career in the NOAA Corps, and though it was created with junior officers in mind, it is meant to be a resource for the Corps as a whole. The site includes information regarding training, benefits, awards, etc., as well as NOAA-wide resources on Employee Resource Groups, mental health, SASH, and reporting harassment and discrimination. The intranet site includes a feedback form on the "Home" page and the "Exec Board" page, and we welcome any input you have to make the site a useful resource for officers!
The Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) is looking for an ambitious O-5 or senior O-4 to be the Technical Director for OSPO's Mission Operations Division (MOD) as early as June 2024. This billet will be vacant beginning on June 10th and can be filled at any point after. Command-at-Sea, Executive Officer, or Aircraft Commander is desirable. OSPO operates the Nation’s 17 weather satellites to acquire and deliver accurate, timely, and reliable satellite observations and integrated products. MOD manages and operates 24 x 7 satellite command & control and/or flight engineering services for the satellites. The Technical Director helps evaluate technical performance of the satellites and derived products & services; helps support launch, activation, and evaluation of new satellites and associated data; responds to on-orbit satellite and instrument payload anomalies; and ensures that Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEF) are performed in accordance with Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning.
The officer at times will be the Acting OSPO Assistant Director to help lead the 695-person organization. The Technical Director can expect to hone their skill in building coalitions through multi-agency partnerships such as the U.S. Navy, Space Force, Air Force, Coast Guard, NASA, and other international partners. The officer will not only learn technical expertise and exercise executive leadership competencies, but they will be afforded ample opportunities for professional/executive training offered at institutions such as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Federal Executive Institute (FEI).
If you are interested in this billet, please contact the NESDIS Liaison Officer / OSPO Assistant Director, CAPT Joe C. Bishop at joe.c.bishop@noaa.gov.