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September 25, 2026

Message from the Director

Good afternoon, NOAA Corps,

Last Friday I had the great pleasure to announce the list of officers who were selected for promotion. Congratulations again to these officers!

The most frequently asked question of CPC is “When do we expect that these officers will be able to pin on their new ranks?” While we do not know of nor have specific dates for the actual promotions, I would like to share some insight into the Secretarial approval process for promotion packages. Once the Secretary of Commerce signs the promotion recommendation package, the package is routed to the White House for presidential approval. At this point, CPC is authorized to notify all officers of their selection or non-selection to the next higher rank and then announces the selectees via Director’s message. The promotion recommendations are not officially approved until the President signs the promotion recommendation package. This routing and approval process typically takes approximately two months after the Secretary signs the package. Once the President approves the recommendations, CPC is then able to route a promotion effecting package to the Under Secretary for approval.

To determine the number of officers that will be included in this first effecting package, CPC runs a calculation to determine the number of open positions we will have in each grade on the date the promotions are to be effected. The NOAA Corps is authorized to have a specific number of officers in each grade, which is specified every year in the OCMP. In the 2026 OCMP, grade distribution percentages are specified in recommendation A (on page 5 of the document). The effecting package contains the maximum number of officers selected for promotion at each grade, without exceeding the number authorized in each grade by the OCMP. This means that the first round of promotions will include a large portion of selected officers, but usually not the entire list. Those officers not included in the initial round of promotions will wait until vacancies are created in the rank for which they are selected. Vacancies are created when officers in the next higher rank are promoted, separated, resign, or retire from the NOAA Corps. CPC processes subsequent effecting packages as soon as vacancies are identified.

If you have questions on this process, please do not hesitate to reach out to CAPT Emily Rose at chief.careermgmt.cpc@noaa.gov. Additionally, there are some past CPC Webinars that cover the NOAA Corps promotion process in detail. Congrats again to all of the officers selected for promotion!

All the Best,

Captain Ryan Wattam, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

BOTC 148 Going Strong

Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC) 148 is going strong, now one fourth the way through their training. The class has gotten the opportunity to take part in some exciting activities and have been continuously learning along the way. Recently, the class has completed Survival at Sea training, Basic Safety, CPR and First Aid, as well as USS Buttercup training. The class appreciated the experience of working together and learning skills that are especially valuable in the midst of an emergency, such as communication, composure, and timeliness. BOTC 148 is looking forward to learning new skills and information as they continue their training, particularly in Basic Firefighting, Basic Seamanship, Navigation, and Leadership Development.

Written by BOTC 148 Officer Candidates

Physical Readiness Submission Requirements Reminder

Annually, from September 1st through October 31st, NOAA Corps officers are required to submit an updated NOAA Corps Personal Fitness Plan (NF 56-78), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Body Composition Analysis (BCA) (as needed) in their OPF.

• You can access a “How-to Guide” here.
• You can access the NF 56-78 form here.

Please refer to NOAA Corps Directives, Chapter 16, for further guidance.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Dietitian Nutritionist Program Manager at rachel.saunders@noaa.gov.

Approved Resignations, Separations and Retirements

On the Horizon 

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