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Inside.OMAO* New address 8/8/08

*limited access

Changes of Command 2007

Change of Command at Marine Operations Center-Pacific

On Friday, November 30, CAPT Michele Bullock relieved CAPT Jon Rix as Commanding Officer at MOC-P in Seattle. CAPT Bullock most recently served as OMAO’s Executive Director under RADM Sam De Bow. Congratulations go to CAPT Bullock on her selection for this position.  Thanks go to CAPT Rix for his 23 years of exemplary service to NOAA. Read the NOAA News Story for more information.

RONALD H. BROWN Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations to CDR Carl Groeneveld, who assumed command of RONALD H. BROWN on December 5 while the ship was in port in San Diego, CA.  He relieved CAPT Gary Petrae, who will be retiring soon. Attending were former COs CAPT Timothy Wright, NOAA (ret.) and CAPT David Peterson, NOAA (ret.) Thanks go to CAPT Petrae for a job well done as Commanding Officer and for his many years of outstanding service to NOAA.

Change of Command - Director NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and Director Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and Assumption of Command - Director Marine and Aviation Operations Centers

On October 5, a change of command ceremony was held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. RADM Jonathan W. Bailey, NOAA, assumed command as Director NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and Director Office of Marine and Aviation Operations from RADM Samuel P. De Bow, Jr., NOAA. RMDL Philip M. Kenul, NOAA, assumed command as Director Marine and Aviation Operations Centers. Congratulations to RADM De Bow, NOAA (Ret.) for a job well done.

RAINIER Change of Command

Congratulations to CDR Donald W. Haines, who assumed command of NOAA ship RAINIER from CDR Guy T. Noll on August 3. The ceremony was held at the Sand Point pier in Seattle, Washington. Thanks go to CDR Noll for a job well done.

THOMAS JEFFERSON Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations to CDR Tod Schattgen, who assumed command of THOMAS JEFFERSON from outgoing commanding officer CAPT Ray Slagle on July 27 while the ship was in port in Alexandria, VA. Thanks go to CAPT Slagle for a job well done.

NOAA Ship RUDE
Congratulations to LCDR Rick Brennan, who assumed command of NOAA Ship RUDE on June 22, while the ship was in port in Norfolk, VA. Thanks go to outgoing Commanding Officer LCDR Lawrence Krepp for a job well done.

Aircraft Operations Center

CAPT Brian Taggart, assumed command of the Aircraft Operations Center on July 18.  CAPT Taggart has many years as a P-3 pilot and is the former Chief of Staff at AOC and former Director of the Remote Sensing Division of the National Geodetic Survey.

NOAA Ship HENRY B. BIGELOW

CDR Stephen Beckwith accepted command of the HENRY B. BIGELOW at the ship's commissioning ceremony on July 16.

OSCAR DYSON Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations to CDR Mike Francisco, who assumed command of OSCAR DYSON from outgoing Commanding Officer CAPT John Herring while the ship was in port in Kodiak, Alaska. Congratulations to CAPT Herring for a job well done!

GORDON GUNTER Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations to LCDR Brian Parker, who assumed command of GORDON GUNTER on March 14 while the ship was in port in Pascagoula, MS. Thanks for a job well done go to outgoing commanding officer CDR Jim Meigs.

MILLER FREEMAN Change of Command

Congratulations to LCDR Mark Boland, who assumed command of NOAA Ship MILLER FREEMAN from outgoing CDR Michael Gallagher on February 27 while the ship was in port in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  Thanks go to CDR Gallagher for a job well done.

HI'IALAKAI Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations to LCDR Jon Swallow, who assumed command of NOAA Ship HI`IALAKAI from CDR Carl Groeneveld on January 19 while the ship was in drydock in Bellingham, Washington.  Thanks go to CDR Groeneveld for a job well done. The ceremony was officiated by RDML Richard Behn, Director, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations Centers. The ship will return to its homeport of Honolulu, Hawaii, in February following completion of a scheduled maintenance period.

Changes of Command 2006

AOC Change of Command

There was a change of leadership at the Aircraft Operations Center on November 3.  Congratulations go to CAPT Phil Kenul as he assumes command of AOC, relieving CAPT Steve Kozak, who served two years as commanding officer. Thanks go to CAPT Kozak for a job well done—particularly for his outstanding work in shepherding AOC operations through last year’s record-breaking hurricane season. CAPT Kenul is also to be commended for his outstanding job as the first director of NOAA’s Homeland Security Office. At the change of command ceremony, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield served as keynote speaker.

Change of Command at Marine Operations Center - Pacific Congratulations to CAPT Jon Rix, who assumed command of the Marine Operations Center-Pacific on Friday, September 22. CAPT Rix was previously commanding officer of the Marine Operations Center-Atlantic.  Thanks to outgoing commanding officer CAPT Mark Ablondi for a well job done. CAPT Ablondi’s next assignment will be at OMAO headquarters.

CAPT Rix presents MOC-P award to CAPT Mark Ablondi

DAVID STARR JORDAN Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations to LCDR Keith Roberts, NOAA, who assumed command of fisheries research ship DAVID STARR JORDAN on September 6 during the ship’s in-port at Punta Arenas, Costa Rica. Thanks for a job well done go to outgoing Commanding Officer LCDR Alexandra Von Saunder.

Hawaii-based Ships Undergoing Changes of Command

Congratulations go to CDR Carl Groeneveld, who assumed command of NOAA ship HI’IALAKAI on August 1 from CAPT Scott Kuester, while the ship was at sea.

Congratulations also go to CDR Karl Mangels, who assumed command of NOAA ship OSCAR ELTON SETTE from CDR Michael Devany, and to CDR Mark Pickett, who assumed command of NOAA ship KA’IMIMOANA from CDR Christopher Beaverson during a joint ceremony on August 8 in Honolulu.  Thanks go to outgoing commanding officers CAPT Kuester, CDR Devany, and CDR Beaverson for a job well done.

Marine Operations Center – Atlantic Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations go to CAPT Emily Christman, NOAA, who assumed command on July 10 of the Marine Operations Center-Atlantic from outgoing commanding officer, CAPT Jon Rix. CAPT Christman previously served as Commanding Officer of THOMAS JEFFERSON. Thanks go to CAPT Rix for a job well done. CAPT Rix will assume command of the Marine Operations Center-Pacific this fall.

FAIRWEATHER Undergoes Change of Command

Congratulations go to CDR Andrew Beaver, NOAA, who assumed command of FAIRWEATHER on June 30 from outgoing command CAPT John Lowell, NOAA. The ceremony took place in Kodiak, Alaska, where the ship is currently operating.   Thanks go to CAPT Lowell for a job well done.  FAIRWEATHER, homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska, conducts hydrographic surveys primarily in Alaskan waters in support of NOAA’s mission to ensure safe navigation.

THOMAS JEFFERSON Change of Command

Congratulations go to CDR Ray Slagle, who assumed command of THOMAS JEFFERSON on Friday, May 12, at the Marine Operations Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Best wishes and thanks for a job well done go to outgoing commanding officer CAPT Emily Christman.

RONALD H. BROWN Undergoes Change of Command

From left to right: CAPT Petrae, RDML Behn, and CAPT Wright

Congratulations to CAPT Gary Petrae, who assumed command of NOAA ship RONALD H. BROWN from CAPT Tim Wright. The ceremony. which was officiated by RDML Behn, Director of Marine and Aviation Operations Centers, was held aboard the ship in Barbados on March 6. 

CAPT Petrae was previously Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Office of Program Planning and Integration in Silver Spring, Md., and CAPT Wright will report to Silver Spring as Executive Director of the Integrated Project Office, NOAA Polar Orbiting Satellite System.

Change of Command at Marine Operations Center - Pacific

CAPT-select Mark P. Ablondi, NOAA, assumed command of the Marine Operations Center-Pacific on January 27, 2006, from CAPT John Clary, NOAA. CAPT Ablondi was previously Chief of Operations at the center. CAPT Clary will take a new position at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, where he will be managing the center’s operational needs.