October 25, 2017
Hello Coast Survey,
This week, we will reach an important milestone in the modernization of nautical chart production. Marine Chart Division (MCD) will complete the task of loading the entire Coast Survey portfolio of over 1,000 electronic navigational charts into the Nautical Information System (NIS) database. MCD stores and updates all of the information used on its nautical chart products and weekly ENC updates in this database.
Although completed almost a year ahead of schedule, it was no easy feat. At the early stages of the project, MCD developed a process for loading complicated files into the database and completely reorganized its branches from a functional to geographic structure (in a matter of two weeks!) to make the process more efficient. Over the next four years, the files were loaded branch by branch with the assistance of a “load team” that traveled with the effort.Thank you to the MCD branch chiefs for your leadership and the staff for your flexibility and commitment. I would also like to thank John Nyberg and Mike Brown for keeping this project a priority for the division and Coast Survey as a whole.
This is an important step toward getting our data to mariners quickly and improving overall safety of navigation. Quite an accomplishment!
Rear Admiral Shepard M. Smith
Congratulations to Kathleen Jamison (chief, Resource Management Staff) who was selected as a 2017 NOS EEO and Diversity Award recipient for exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to a diverse workforce through outreach and internship opportunities. The effort Ms. Jamison has made in the last two years towards providing opportunities to current students and recent grads from diverse backgrounds is remarkable and unparalleled in its effectiveness in Coast Survey. A particularly noteworthy example is her spearheading of the innovative internship program with the Greening Youth Foundation, a new source of diverse participants.
Congratulations to Amanda Phelps (Resource Management Staff) who was selected as a 2017 NOS Team Member of the Year for her successful management of Coast Survey’s pilot diversity internship program. Amanda assumed leadership of this new program, Internships in Marine Geography, in January 2017, overseeing the development of intern projects with Coast Survey managers, coordinating the selection of summer interns into the program, serving as the onsite manager for the interns for 10 weeks during the summer, and acting as the liaison to the third party non-profit organization, Greening Youth Foundation, which co-administered the pilot program.
Congratulations to Giuseppe Masetti (UNH/Joint Hydrographic Center) who was selected as a 2017 NOS Team Member of the Year for developing HydrOffice software and its impact toward increasing confidence and improving timeliness of seafloor map products, including nautical charts, for the ocean mapping community. Dr. Masetti established several HydrOffice projects in direct collaboration with NOAA's Office of Coast Survey including two important tools: Sound Speed Manager and QC Tools. HydrOffice (www.hydroffice.org) is a research software framework that allows mappers and hydrographers around the world to support and collaborate on improvements to data acquisition, processing, and products through automation, quality control, and calibration for more precise, accurate, and fast measurements of the seafloor.
Congratulations to Jason Greenlaw (Coast Survey Development Lab) who was selected as a 2017 NOS Team Member of the Year for the development and enhancement of NOAA’s nowCOAST using exceptional knowledge, experience, and ingenuity, and sharing this within NOAA to ensure the reliable delivery of NOAA geospatial products. Jason is the lead software developer of NOAA’s nowCOAST utility and has consistently demonstrates exceptional initiative and creativity in finding solutions to customer-driven requirements and has consistently developed innovative strategies for improving nowCOAST’s content, functionality, and reliability.
Congratulations to Emily Clark (Acquisition and Grants Office) who was nominated by Coast Survey for the NOS Peer Recognition Rafting Award for unparalleled support, expert guidance, and collaborative work approach on priority contract initiatives for the Office of Coast Survey in 2017. Ms. Clark manages Coast Survey’s portfolio of commercial acquisition procurements, consistently providing a high level of customer service and ensuring timely execution of Coast Survey’s unique contracting requirements.
Today we simply say:
“Shipmate... the watch stands relieved. Relieved by those you have trained, guided, and led. Shipmate you stand relieved. We have the watch..."
The 2017 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is underway and Coast Survey's CFC lead this year is Heather Gilbert. To kick things off, here is a summary of changes to CFC that are effective this year:
No cash donations accepted by CFC - all funds must be designated to a specific charity
No fundraisers - events must focus on awareness of causes of CFC charities and their missions
New electronic CFC donor pledging system - payroll deduction, credit/debit cards, and eCheck options will be available. Paper pledges will still be accepted, but will be phased out in 5 years.
Volunteer Program implemented - employees may donate time in addition to funds.
11/9 - NOS All Hands Meeting at 1 p.m. in Silver Spring. Details for remote participation will be available on the For Employees site a few days before the meeting.
11/16-11/18 - Pacific Hydrographic Branch will be hosting a booth at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, WA
11/28 - NOAA CFC rally event, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. (SSMC3 Rm. 4527)
