National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps of Commissioned Officers Honor, Respect, and Commitment
1807. Our Beginning. Thomas Jefferson Realized the growing nation needed a survey of the entire coastline of the United States, to ensure safe passage of people and trade goods. Congress agreed and on February 10 th 1807 they established the Survey of the Coast, our nations first scientific agency. The survey was tasked with making accurate charts of every mile of navigable water in the United States. This endeavor continues today!
Becoming a Uniformed Service Initially Naval and Army officers were assigned to the survey teams and worked alongside the civilians. During the Civil War all Army officers were removed and never returned. Only 2 Navy officers remained. The civilian surveyors continued their work, however not wearing uniforms they found themselves in a precarious situation. If caught behind enemy lines they would be treated as spies and executed.
NOAA Corps From 1965 1970 the USC&GS became the ESSA Corps under the Environmental Science Services Administration. In 1970 the U.S. Government brought together many scientific agencies under one roof which became The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These agencies included; National Weather Service; National Marine Fisheries Service; Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service; and National Ocean Service. As well as the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey/ESSA Commissioned Officer Corps The NOAA Corps was born!
NOAA Corps Organization Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceanic and Atmospheric Research National Environmental Satellite, Data And Information Service National Ocean Service National Weather Service National Marine Fisheries Service Program Planning and Integration Office of Marine and Aviation Operations Aircraft Operations Center Marine Operations Centers Commissioned Personnel Center NOAA Dive Center
18 Ships KODIAK, AK (1) OSCAR DYSON KETCHIKAN, AK (1) FAIRWEATHER 9 Homeports WOODS HOLE (1) RAINIER MOC-PACIFIC (4) DELAWARE II BELL M. SHIMADA MILLER FREEMAN McARTHUR II MISSIONS Nautical Charting Fisheries Research Oceanographic Research Coastal Monitoring Ocean Exploration MOC-ATLANTIC (1) THOMAS JEFFERSON SAN DIEGO (0) CHARLESTON (2) HI IALAKAI PASCAGOULA (3) RONALD H. BROWN NANCY FOSTER OSCAR ELTON SETTE GORDON GUNTER Temporary Homeports: HONOLULU, HI NEWPORT, RI HONOLULU (3) KA IMIMOANA PISCES OREGON II OKEANOS EXPLORER HENRY BIGELOW
Shipboard Duties A NOAA officer s primary shipboard duties include: Ensuring safe shipboard operations including proper planning, navigation, equipment deployment, and execution of emergency procedures. Officers provide the leadership and support necessary for day to day operations.
Fisheries Vessels These vessels provide an understanding of the physical and biological processes that control year-class strength of key economic fish species. They also conduct habitat assessments, survey marine mammal and marine bird populations, and observe other environmental conditions.
Oceanographic Research Vessels Oceanographic vessels travel the globe servicing or deploying sea buoys, conducting dive operations for coral reef assessment, collecting atmospheric data, ocean chemistry, and other data adding to our understanding of our environment. The Tsunami warning buoy system provides advanced warning for coastal areas to save lives in an emergency.
Hydrographic Survey Vessels Survey vessels create precise ocean maps of our nations waterways, ensuring the safe passage of cargo and passenger ships alike. Unlike other ships, officers working aboard these ships are directly involved with data collection and processing.
NOAA Corps Divers NOAA Corps divers serve many purposes throughout NOAA Some duties include wreckage recovery, research assistance, and ship maintenance or hull inspections.
Non Corps Jobs in the NOAA Fleet Inlcude licensed and unlicensed positions Engineering GVA to CME Deck GVA to Bosun to Master (AB to Mate) Stewards GVA to Chief Steward Science Support Positions Survey tech, electronics Wages based on MSC / union standards Generally hiring Experience a big plus http://www.moc.noaa.gov/shipjobs/index.html
NOAA Small Boat Program 12 to 65 feet Class A to II (no license needed) Class III and SRVs (license needed) Small Research Vessels Operate in all parts of the US and NOAA Support numerous types of operations Research labs, sanctuaries, survey operations