NOAA Corps

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Seal of the NOAA Commissioned Corps

Flag of the NOAA Commissioned Corps

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (NOAA Corps) is the smallest of the seven Uniformed Services of the United States, having only approximately 300 commissioned officers. It is the uniformed service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is a scientific agency under the United States Department of Commerce.

The NOAA Commissioned Corps traces its roots back to the former U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, which dates back to 1807 and President Thomas Jefferson. The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey officers were commissioned so that under the laws of war, they could not be executed as spies if they were serving as surveyors on a battlefield.

The NOAA Corps today provides a cadre of professionals trained in engineering, earth sciences, oceanography, meteorology, fisheries science, and other related disciplines. Officers operate ships, fly aircraft, manage research projects, conduct diving operations, and serve in staff positions throughout NOAA.

Contents

1 Organization

1.1 Flag Officers
1.2 Notes

2 See also
3 References
4 External links

Organization

Its officers wear uniforms similar to the United States Navy, with distinctive NOAA insignia. The NOAA Corps also uses the same ranks as U.S. Navy commissioned officers, from ensign to vice admiral.

Flag Officers

Director of the NOAA Corps, and Director of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) -- Rear Admiral (O-8) Samuel P. De Bow, Jr. [link]
Deputy Director NOAA Corps, and Deputy Director of the Office Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) -- Rear Admiral (lower half) (O-7) Nicholas A. Prahl [link]
Director, Marine and Aviation Operations Centers -- Rear Admiral (lower half) (O-7) Richard R. Behn [link]

Notes

Officers are designated with the abbreviation NOAA, not USN.
NOAA Corps officers cannot hold dual commissions with another uniformed service, though inter-service transfers are allowed.

References

[NOAA Directives and Appendices in pdf format]

External links

[NOAA Marine Operations]
[NOAA Aircraft Operations]
This article incorporates material taken from the public domain website of the [NOAA Corps.]