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July 17, 2026

Message from the Director

Good afternoon, NOAA Corps,

I hope everyone is staying cool out there! With the July heat comes the busiest part of our field season. The ships and aircraft have been underway for a number of months, with a few more months of high-tempo operations to go. It is around this time that fatigue usually starts to set in. To combat this, try to identify time between missions to unplug and stay fresh. Look out for your crews, and pay attention to your own state of fatigue and readiness.

All the Best,

Captain Ryan Wattam, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

Detail Assignment Reminders

NOAA Corps officers engaged in duties or activities within NOAA, but outside of their assigned billet may be placed on a temporary detail assignment (or “detail”) with careful consideration to the needs of the Service and the professional development of individual officers. While officers frequently exceed their standard responsibilities, formal detail letters are reserved for long-term commitments or duties that fall entirely outside their primary scope of work. Short-term, related collateral duties should instead be documented directly in the Officer Evaluation Report (OER).

Requests for a NOAA Corps detail must be submitted in writing no fewer than 30 days in advance of the first day of the detail. These requests must have written endorsement from the officer’s chain of command, including the Line Office Liaison, and are coordinated through the assignment branch. 

For questions concerning detail letters, please reach out to the Assignment Coordinator, LT Collin McMillan, at assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov. More details can also be found in the Directives 05311.

U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources (U.S. AMLR) Program

The U.S. AMLR Program is a directed research initiative under NOAA Fisheries that collects and monitors ecosystem-based fisheries data in Antarctica to support federal mandates established by the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984. The program is seeking a dedicated NOAA Corps officer to assist with facility support and infrastructure projects, including camp maintenance and construction. The deployment will run from late December 2026 (departing on or about December 31) through early March 2027 (returning on or about March 14).

Candidates will be evaluated based on three main requirements:

• A proven track record of working in small teams in remote, austere environments for extended periods.
• Hands-on construction experience, with an emphasis working on off-grid or remote sites.
• Medical training and experience.

In addition to leading critical infrastructure support, the chosen officer will have the unique opportunity to assist with hands-on scientific research and will earn the Antarctic Service Medal.

The U.S. AMLR Program will provide all travel, field equipment, and associated training needed for the deployment. Officers interested in this unique opportunity should send a statement of interest listing your relevant experience (no more than one page in length) to LCDR Eric Fritzsche (eric.fritzsche@noaa.gov) and Dr. Douglas Krause (douglas.krause@noaa.gov) by July 31st, 2026. 

On the Horizon 

Approved Resignations, Separations and Retirements

Cyberflash is a NOAA Commissioned Personnel Center publication for active duty and retired members, families and supporters of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Questions? Contact noaacorps.policy@noaa.gov