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Good afternoon, NOAA Corps,
I’m pleased to pass the pen this week to Rear Admiral (lower half) Ben Evans as he enters retirement after over 26 years of highly impactful service to NOAA and the Nation. I am most grateful that he agreed to share some parting thoughts with us as he moves on to life beyond the NOAA Corps.
Fair winds and following seas, Admiral!
All the Best,
Captain Ryan Wattam, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
Greetings, NOAA Corps,
Thank you, CAPT Wattam, for the opportunity to share some parting thoughts with all of you. As I write this on the morning of my last day of active duty (April 30), I am feeling a mix of emotions - ranging from slight panic that I’ve forgotten to tie off some critical administrative detail to anticipation of exploring new opportunities in earnest starting tomorrow. Definitely butterflies in the stomach in a way that I have not felt in a long time! But one thing that is clear in my mind is my appreciation of all of you and my steadfast belief in the value of our service to NOAA and the nation. This has only grown stronger and sharper over the course of my career - and is primarily what I’d like to share with you in this Cyberflash.
On the Value of Our Service: As the smallest and one of two non-military uniformed services of the United States, we are unique. We have all had to answer some version of the “Wait, you’re not in the Navy/Coast Guard?”, or “Isn’t NOAA a civilian agency?” questions. Most often, these queries come from curious relatives, inter-agency colleagues, or members of the public who are glad to learn something new. Sometimes, they are pointedly asked by skeptical and influential senior leaders looking for opportunities for efficiency. These questions have surfaced repeatedly over the course of my career, and regardless of the source, it is important for each of us to be able to answer clearly and succinctly.
The answer will be a little different for each of us, based on our background and career pathway. But, in my opinion, there is a core principle that should be part of every answer: the NOAA Corps is uniquely positioned at the junction of scientific and technical expertise, operational proficiency, and leadership and administrative skill. Those traits, combined with flexibility to respond to emerging requirements and adherence to a chain of command, are the critical and irreplaceable value that we provide NOAA and the nation. NOAA has many civilian employees who are experts in their technical fields, operational specialists, or exceptional administrators - but only the NOAA Corps actively recruits and develops a cadre of personnel specifically for the jobs where all three of these disciplines are simultaneously indispensable. That’s why NOAA and the Nation need the NOAA Corps.
On Integrity: With the “why” of the NOAA Corps established, I’ll turn to the “how”: Our core values, “Honor, Respect, and Commitment”, define how we deliver the service our nation asks of us. But to me, these are really just components of integrity, which I believe is the foundational principle that defines NOAA Corps and each of us as commissioned officers.
We often say that a person “has integrity”, in a way that implies that it is an innate property that people are born with (or without!). But I submit to you that integrity is fundamentally a behavior of choice, which we develop and hone through practice, experience, and response to adversity. Every NOAA Corps career includes numerous cases where you will be called upon to make that choice. Sometimes that decision point is obvious, and the choice is easy. Other times, it may be hard to tell that there’s a choice to be made, or what the right answer is. You may get it wrong sometimes. In my opinion, the successful NOAA Corps officer recognizes that integrity doesn’t just happen on its own, and consciously layers this choice into their decision-making approach. This is fundamental to how we deliver value as a service.
On Teamwork: Lastly, I’ll address the inherent tension between interpersonal competition and teamwork. This is a challenge that has come into sharper focus over the course of my career, as the service has grown larger and become more professional. Our “up or out” system certainly builds in some healthy competition between servicemembers. Particularly for JOs, it may feel like your seniors are constantly comparing you to your peers, starting from your first day at BOTC. However, I ask that you not let competition define you or your career. (I know, easy for the retired admiral to say…) When thinking about accomplishments, do your best to think in terms of “we” and “us” rather than “I” and “me”. The NOAA Corps is a small service - if you are consistently around when good things happen, people will notice even if you don’t receive formal credit.
The opposite is true as well. As I think about my career, the most significant leadership successes came when I was focused on sustaining and building readiness and performance of the people around me - and my biggest failures occurred when I was too focused on myself, and forgot about my team. Don’t let the latter be you.
The value of our service, the choice of integrity, and the essentiality of team success - I hope these are ideas that are useful to you as you all carry on the proud traditions and vital service of the NOAA Corps. Never forget the privilege of wearing the uniform of our service and the United States. I’ll be rooting for you, and standing by to help in any way I can. Don’t hesitate to be in touch if I can ever be of assistance - you can find me on LinkedIn, and CPC will have my contact information.
Fair winds, all!
V/r,
Ben
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