February 5, 2020
Hello everyone,
I am happy to be back in the Office of Coast Survey for the month of February as acting director while Rear Adm. Smith is on travel. It’s nice to be around familiar faces, as it has already been two years since I was chief of the Coast Survey Development Lab.
I spent the first week of my detail at the Field Procedures Workshop in Virginia Beach. Congratulations to the Hydrographic Surveys Division for putting on such a successful event. More than 100 individuals attended the workshop including internal NOAA representatives, our hydrographic survey contractors and hardware/software vendors, and federal partners such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Naval Oceanographic Office, and the University of Southern Mississippi. You can read more about the workshop below.
This week I am headed to the Basic Hydrographic Training Course in Yorktown, Virginia, to welcome new hydrographers to the mission of Coast Survey. This three-week course serves as the foundation of the practice of hydrography in NOAA, and over the years has provided valuable training to personnel from our ships, offices, and navigation response teams. It provides the opportunity to develop technical expertise in hydrography. Thank you to Lt. Matt Forrest for organizing the training course.
Over the next month, I look forward to connecting once again with all of you and the great work happening every day at Coast Survey.
Visit the new Coast Survey Communications Google Site for resources such as outreach materials, PowerPoint presentation templates, logos, and writing style guidance. The site also provides guidance on developing communications plans, speaking with media, and reporting achievements to NOS and NOAA.
1/6-2/14 (EXTENDED DEADLINE) - Zero Waste office assessment - sign up here
2/13 - Dish and Dine with the DAA, Juliana Blackwell, on February 13, from 12:00-1:00 p.m., in SSMC4 Rm. 13153
2/13-2/17 - Miami International Boat Show
2/24-2/27 - Canadian Hydrographic Conference 2020 in Québec City
Coast Survey recently released two new viewers to display ENC and RNC products. For more information check out our recent blog post.
If you find issues affecting ArcGIS-based applications, submit an help desk ticket with the subject line "URGENT - GIS Server Issue." The issue will be addressed in a timely manner.
Visit NOAA Esri Central Support (NECS) if you are having problems with ArcGIS Software (crashes, errors, etc.). It is here to help!
Curious about ArcGIS Pro? Check out the ArcGIS Pro Introduction Page.
It’s all about the Data! OCS GIS Portal and NOAA Geoplatform.
Need information on GIS projects, software, and geospatial initiatives? Visit NOAA GIS Community for information.
Check out What's New in ArcGIS StoryMaps here!
Upcoming Conferences:
Esri Federal GIS Confrence, February 11 - 12, 2020, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. Local federal attendees and all contract staff: Register here - registration is complimentary. The group travel is closed and approved.
GEOWEEK (ILMF/ASPRS/MAPPS), March 22-26, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. All staff should submit a request for complimentary registration here - with 15% off. The group travel is DUE TODAY, FEB. 5.
Esri International User Conference , July 13-17, at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. Local federal attendees and all contract staff: Register NCES. Federal staff should add your name to the confrence package is due Feb 28.
Dish and Dine with Juliana Blackwell on February 13, from 12:00-1:00 p.m., in SSMC4 Rm. 13153. Come for an hour or come for ten minutes; however long you can stay, to engage in a dialog on Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
Upcoming Career Training:
"The 5 Deadly Vowels of Leadership" The topic covers toxic leadership traits that prevent leaders from truly excelling in their careers and the dysfunction that it causes within organizations. The training will be held on February 20th from 1:30-2:30 Click here to register.
The NOS Diversity and Inclusion Committee releases its Professional Development Report.
Over the last year, a subcommittee of the NEDAC considered recommendations to “ensure all employees have equal access to career development opportunities,” which is an objective from the NOAA Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. Many of the recommendations are targeted at NOS, there are some best practices that can be implemented at the program office level. In particular, many of the best practices related to geographic barriers may also be appropriate for program office implementation.
February is American Heart Month and not just for Valentine's Day. This month long observation was established in 2009 in recognition that half of all Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors that lead to heart disease; high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Click here to learn more about risk factors and prevention