December 2, 2020
Hi everyone,
As I logged onto my computer and reviewed my calendar on Monday morning after Thanksgiving weekend, I realized that there is a lot going on in the month of December. The activities, meetings, and events seem to carry a common theme…”caring.”
Caring for our mission...
As 2021 fast approaches and with the many changes that lie ahead, Coast Survey leadership will attend a retreat in mid-December to focus on our office’s roadmap goals, budget, priorities, and how we will best fulfill our mission next year. Our navigation managers will be meeting to discuss engagement strategies and Coast Survey’s role at the regional and local levels. And I know all of you will be focusing on important projects as we look ahead to next year.
Caring for others...
This week you received an email from Dr. Neil Jacobs reminding us that the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is underway. The CFC is the world’s leading and most successful annual giving campaign in the workplace. With hundreds of charities in the program, there is something for everyone. 2020 has been quite a year and there are many out there that need your support.
Caring for ourselves...
Perhaps most importantly, December is a good time to check in with ourselves. Just coming off Thanksgiving break reminded me that the holidays this year will be much different than last. Join us this Friday, December 4, from 1:30-2:00 p.m. EST, for a discussion on behavioral health and COVID-19 with Cmdr. KJ Green (OMAO), U.S. Health Service. You can add this event to your calendar.
And don’t forget to have fun...
Have you had the opportunity to see who signed the 2020 Coast Survey Thanksgiving card? Take a look and see what your colleagues are thankful for. Coast Survey’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee has also organized several fun winter activities to engage in virtually with your coworkers this month. I’m personally looking forward to seeing the results of the “Nail’d It or Fail’d It” competition. Thank you to Amanda Phelps for leading the charge in putting these activities together.
Director, Office of Coast Survey
On November 12, Quentin Stubbs, PhD, Texas navigation manager, was the guest speaker for the Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (AITC) Research Seminar Series. His virtual presentation consisted of an overview of the Office of Coast Survey as well as his pathway to a STEM career. The virtual seminar concluded with two Q&A sessions. The first session featured students with questions about Coast Survey and careers in cartography and survey, and the interaction between the agriculture and maritime industries. The second discussion was with faculty and staffers on potential areas of collaboration in future research and outreach projects. Quentin also was recruited by a local chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., to be interviewed and spotlighted on Killough Middle School's website entitled, "Professionals Corner STEM Talk." He answered a variety of questions from middle schoolers regarding his field of study and job responsibilities as a navigation manager. The end goals were to provide the middle schoolers with real world insight on how to build a career in a STEM field, and to broaden their horizons on career opportunities. For more information contact Quentin.Stubbs@noaa.gov.
Awards
Congratulations to Andy Armstrong, Meredith Westington, and Rear Adm. Shep Smith for being awarded the Department of Commerce Gold Medal for successful orchestration of seafloor mapping and data science initiatives imperative to fulfill U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) project goals. They were nominated as part of a larger team that included staff from OAR, NESDIS, and OMAO.
Listen to Pacific Hydrographic Branch's Jessica Murphy and Navigation Services Division's Lt. j.g. Michelle Levano, as they present "Ping! - Using sound to map Alaska's seafloor," as part of the NOAA Live! Alaska webinar series.
12/3 - NOS All Hands/Employee Recognition Meeting from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST. Register.
12/4 - Behavioral Health and COVID-19 discussion with Cmdr. KJ Green (OMAO), U.S. Health Service; 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST. Add this meeting to your calendar.
12/5, 12/7 - Navigation manager meeting
12/8 - 48th annual meeting of the US-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR)
12/10 - National Ocean Service Holiday Party 1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EST. Register.
