Happy Friday, NOAA Corps,
I hope you were all able to tune in to the NOAA Town Hall this past Tuesday; it was a well-moderated, candid, and open discussion between our Acting Administrator and Secretary that focused around numerous questions posed by the NOAA workforce. Many questions answered by the Secretary either directly or indirectly addressed leadership themes, and I appreciated the opportunity to hear about his personal leadership thoughts and philosophy. In particular, he shared the high value he places on outcomes/objectives and honest self-reflection in support of achieving those outcomes. As NOAA Corps officers, I feel that we are accustomed to employing an outcome-based leadership approach within our own core values. We also recognize that in pursuit of positive outcomes, we manage and mitigate operational risks to ensure safety of life and property: win-win.
One of the things I love about our service is that we absolutely provide what is commonly referred to as a "leadership laboratory" for our members as they progress in their careers. Every few years (at a bare minimum) our roles & responsibilities change, and we are presented with new challenges and opportunities. Ultimately, those challenges and opportunities are directly connected to mission objectives. With each new challenge, we work with our teams and chain of command to not only assess how to address/negotiate the challenge, but also how that challenge fits into the bigger picture, providing the best possible service and products to the Nation, including but not limited to protecting lives and property, providing environmental intelligence, and supporting our vast national economy. With our eye on desired outcomes, we learn when things don't go as we expected; build from when they do; and gain increased awareness as more informed and effective leaders through it all.
My genuine thanks and admiration go out to all of you for serving and participating in this perpetual outcome-oriented leadership laboratory; and I encourage you to continue following a path of self-reflection and perpetual learning as we serve NOAA and the Nation. As always, please continue to take care of yourselves and each other.
Best Regards,
Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
P.S. Please join me in congratulating BOTC 146 and welcoming our newest cohort of ensigns to the fleet in the coming weeks!
| 06 Aug 2025 | Officer Assignment Board |
| 28 Aug 2025 | BOTC 147 Swearing In |
| 03 Sep 2025 | Command Advisory Board |
| LCDR Jamie Rosenberg | 01 Aug 2025 |
| LCDR Devin Schaefer | 08 Sep 2025 Terminal leave: 01 Jul 2025 |
| LCDR Bryan Brasher | 22 Sep 2025 |
Congratulations to our newest ensigns from BOTC 146 on their graduation from basic training on July 10th, 2025! The class is well-trained and prepared to hit the ground running at their first assignments. Prior to graduation, the class shared their leadership philosophies, which they had been curating for the past 12 weeks, demonstrating their growth throughout the program. The 10 mariners of BOTC 146 will report to USMRC on July 14th, while the 11 aviators will report to AOC no later than July 23rd.
BOTC 146 Awards:
When an officer without dependents is permanently assigned to a ship, he/she must determine whether to refuse or accept government quarters (i.e., live on the ship), which ultimately leads to determination of their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
An Aviation Advisory Board will convene on or around December 18th to recommend officers for initial flight training. Selection numbers and start dates for flight training will be determined based on the needs of the service. Previous flight experience is not required for this opportunity, however it is highly encouraged and will help applicants determine if aviation is a desirable career path. Time in Service will not be limited for the purpose of this candidate selection and selected applicants will incur an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) of six years, if Initial Pilot Training is required to earn required FAA Certificates.
Requirements for the NOAA Corps Aviation Selection Process:
Letters of recommendation are not required but are highly recommended. Flight materials will be due COB December 8, 2025.
For questions about NOAA aviation careers and the application process, contact LCDR Priti Bhatnagar (aoc.chiefadmin@noaa.gov) or LCDR Melissa Trede (assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov). For questions specific to medical requirements and USCG Class I flight physicals, contact CAPT Joe Newcomb, USPHS, (joseph.newcomb@noaa.gov) or (863) 500-3991. You can also refer to the CPC website on the Fleet to Flight process.
Please let the assignment coordinator, LCDR Trede know by October 1st, 2025 if you plan to apply for initial flight training so that you can be scheduled for an interview. Officers can not be considered for the board without a completed interview.
The National Ocean Service, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and CPC hereby announce adjustments to several assignments following the 2025 NOAA Corps Billet Review. In alignment with the Leadership Development Framework, the following assignments have been reclassified as Pre-XO/ Land Tour 1 for Aviators:
These positions will involve increased responsibilities within the sanctuary system. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overseeing large budgets, maintaining small boats, supervising staff, and, in some cases, advancing to the role of Deputy Superintendent of the respective sanctuary. Additionally, these positions may require participation in Leadership Team discussions. NOS seeks motivated officers looking to be part of the marine sanctuary system, and safeguard America's premier marine places. Interested officers should contact the respective incumbents and/or the NOS Line Office Liaison, CAPT Hector L. Casanova, for more information.