Coast Survey Biweekly Newsletter

Hydrographic Surveys Division hosts 2022 Field Procedures Workshop

Coast Survey's Hydrographic Surveys Division recently hosted the 2022 Field Procedures Workshop from February 1 to 3. Over 180 members of the NOAA hydrographic community gathered virtually to discuss current and future field operations, development of best practices, innovations, and the future of hydrography. NOAA survey vessels and hydrographic contractors detailed their challenges, successes, and innovations from the previous field season, and the 2022 hydrographic survey plans were unveiled. The University of South Florida Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies and the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping Joint Hydrographic Center presented their ongoing research progress and highlighted previous and upcoming field activities. Additional highlights of the workshop included discussing the use of uncrewed systems and the continuation of the National Bathymetric Source build out. Plans were also revealed to overhaul the Hydrographic Surveys Specifications and Deliverables manual, which details the requirements for hydrographic surveys undertaken by NOAA field units or by organizations under contract. For more information contact ocs.hsd_fpw@noaa.gov.

Dr. Saeed Moghimi now serves as the team lead of the Coast Survey Development Lab's Storm Surge Modeling Team in the Coastal Marine Modeling Branch. He is leading all related efforts concerning the operational storm surge and tide forecast system capabilities including research and development, research-to-operation, operational support, regular upgrades and maintenance, and skill assessment and dissemination. After completing his doctorate in 2005, he spent four years as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering of Arak University. In 2009, he was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt fellowship in Physical Oceanography at the Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Germany. His scientific research on model coupling, water column turbulence and mixing, wave modeling, coastal ocean circulation modeling, wave-current interaction and the use of data assimilation methods for predicting coastal ocean geophysical variables made him one of the few people with the expertise for tackling coastal modeling related problems.
The Hydrographic Surveys Division welcomes James Miller as the new permanent chief of the Pacific Hydrographic Branch in Seattle, effective January 31. James has 12 years of experience in HSD. After graduating from the College of Charleston, he began his career as a physical scientist at the Atlantic Hydrographic Branch in Norfolk. In 2018 he transitioned to the HSD Operations Branch to lead the External Source Data team and collaborated with a wide range of partners to advance Coast Survey's expanded use of external data. James is excited to join the Pacific Hydrographic Branch and honored to lead such a dedicated and passionate team. Congratulations James!
Dr. Terence Lynch has been selected as the new director for the Office of Science Support (OSS) in NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) line office. Terence has been on detail with OAR's Office of Ocean Exploration Research (OER) for the past several months, and while there, the opportunity with OSS opened. As the director, Terence will have responsibility over the Cooperative Institute Administration Office, NOAA Science Advisory Board, and NOAA Central Library, as well as provide direct support for research and development analysis and policy. Terence has been part of the Coast Survey family for over a decade and helped shape Coast Survey into the organization it is today. Congratulations Terence – we wish you all the best in this new position!
Dan Garatea is serving as the Hydrographic Surveys Division’s Operations Branch acting contracting team lead through May.
Lucy Hick is serving as the Hydrographic Surveys Division acting deputy chief through May. Ryan Wartick is stepping in as the Navigation Services Division’s Customer Affairs Branch acting chief while Lucy is away.
The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) is happy to welcome Dr. Quentin Stubbs, to a four month detail through NOAA’s internal L·A·N·T·E·R·N (Leveraging Abilities, Needs, Talents, Energies and Resources Network) program. During his detail, Dr. Stubbs, who serves as the regional navigation manager in Texas, will be managing the development of the 2023-2028 Marine Transportation System National Strategy. This assignment provides him with the opportunity to work directly with the CMTS executive secretariat staff and CMTS member agencies to ensure their priorities are included in the strategy and to help continue to move the Marine Transportation System forward. His previous experience includes serving as a geographer and regulatory specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as a geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey.

In observation of Black History Month, please join NOAA for weeks of programming including a virtual mental health fair, a Black Health and Wellness Special Emphasis Program, and a Black History Trivia Game! Details can be found at this link.

The NOS Office of EEO and Diversity Programs is sponsoring training on February 9 – Change Agility and Resilience. In this interactive session, we’ll investigate science-based strategies for enhancing health and well-being. Using a holistic five-pillar model of resilience, we’ll examine various facets of the mind-body connection, including the relationship between psychological, social, and emotional health. Please register with this form and select one session. There will be two 90-minute sessions on February 9.
Session 1 – 10:30 to 12:00 a.m. (EST)
Session 2 – 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. (EST)

Connect with us as we kick off our monthly Chat Roulette next Friday, February 11, from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. (EST)! We will be shuffling breakout chat rooms to discuss some fun questions and prompts. This is an entertaining way to interact with one another, and get to know some new faces! Add to your calendar or link here for the video.

NOAA’s Office of Education is seeking NOAA scientists, resource managers, and program specialists to review applications for the Class of 2022 Ernest F. Hollings and Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Undergraduate Scholarships. The reviews will be conducted online from February 22 through March 8. Interested employees and contractors who can devote two to three hours to read and score student applications in NOAA-mission fields please register here by February 11. Applications will be grouped into four panels: Biological Sciences; Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics; Physical Sciences; and Social Sciences and Education.

NOAA’s Workplace Violence Prevention and Response (WVPR) is offering webinars to increase knowledge on sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) and workplace wellness. Effective communication is a part of every healthy relationship. This is true, and yet it doesn't mean it's always easy. Tune in to Maintaining Healthy Relationships with Effective Communication with Amanda Houpt on February 17 at 2:00 p.m. (EST). In this interactive workshop, we'll review and practice strategies and skills that you can use to communicate effectively in a variety of situations.