National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps | |
---|---|
Founded | 22 May 1917[1] (107 years, 4 months) |
Country | United States |
Type | Uniformed service |
Size | 330 officers[2] 15 ships[3] 10 aircraft[4] |
Part of | NOAA |
Garrison/HQ | Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
Nickname(s) | "NOAA Corps" |
Motto(s) | "Science, service, stewardship."[5] |
Colors | [6] |
March |
|
Engagements | |
Website | NOAA Corps |
Commanders | |
Deputy Under Secretary for Operations | VADM Nancy Hann |
Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps[10] | RADM Chad M. Cary[9] |
Deputy Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps[11] | Vacant |
Director, Office of Coast Survey | RDML Benjamin K. Evans |
Notable commanders | VADM H. Arnold Karo VADM Michael S. Devany VADM Nancy A. Hann |
Insignia | |
Flag | |
Aircraft flown | |
Reconnaissance | WP-3D, G-IV, 350CER & 360CER, DHC-6-300 |
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (informally the NOAA Corps) is one of eight federal uniformed services of the United States, and operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a scientific agency overseen by the Department of Commerce. The NOAA Corps is made up of scientifically and technically trained officers. The NOAA Corps and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are the only U.S. uniformed services that consist only of commissioned officers, with no enlisted or warrant officer ranks. The NOAA Corps' primary mission is to monitor oceanic conditions, support major waterways, and monitor atmospheric conditions.
The NOAA Corps traces its origins to the establishment of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps on May 22, 1917, which the service recognizes as its official date of establishment.[12][13] The Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps became the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps in 1965, which in turn became the NOAA Corps in 1970.[13][14]