Service, Science, and Adventure
Honoring the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
Last week, I had the honor of traveling to Norfolk, Virginia to take part in a NOAA Commissioned Corps change of command ceremony aboard the NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler. The ceremony recognized two decorated and devoted officers — Lieutenant Commander Matthew Jaskoski and Lieutenant Commander Briana Welton — who have exemplified expertise in scientific discovery throughout their service.
At the Department of Commerce, the NOAA Commissioned Corps play a pivotal role in our mission to ensure that communities and businesses have the information they need to prosper in a changing environment. They serve our country as one of seven federal uniformed services of the United States.
Each day, 321 NOAA Corps officers advance scientific exploration of our country’s coastlines and lakefronts. From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, from the shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific, the environmental data they gather promotes more resilient communities, ensures the safety of our citizens, preserves our natural resources, and protects our nation’s economic security.
In the four years since the Hassler was commissioned, it has completed 46 hydrographic surveys — providing valuable information about our coasts. These maps measure and mark the depths of water as well as determine what lies beneath. from mud to rocks to sunken ships.
This innovative measurement method is imperative to correct misinformation and discover new insights. Yet the Hassler has also demonstrated how crucial this technology is during dangerous and severe weather.
Just a few months after the ship set sail for the first time, Hurricane Sandy struck. Several ships were stranded up and down the East Coast at damaged ports.
In the wake of devastation and destruction, the Hassler swiftly deployed. The crew searched for dangers to navigation routes in the ports of Hampton Roads and Baltimore. Using innovative side scan and multi-beam sonar technologies, the Hassler’s emergency surveys located navigational hazards caused by the hurricane that threatened nearby ships.
As a result of the expertise of the NOAA Corps officers and crew and the capability of their equipment, ports reopened more quickly, and commercial, military, and recreational traffic resumed. The Northeast began to rebuild much faster because of this vital work.
This is just one of several success stories made possible by the Hassler. These contributions are a testament to the officers and crew who work daily to make it easier for Americans to navigate our waters.
But it also speaks volumes about the role of a NOAA survey ship’s commanding officer. She is charged with ensuring safe and efficient operation of the vessel. She acts as the chief scientist and senior program representative. And she is responsible for completing hydrographic surveys that are delivered to the Office of Coast Survey.
Lieutenant Commander Briana Welton has exemplified excellence since assuming command of the Hassler in November 2015. Her time in the NOAA Corps began in 2003, when she received her commission after graduating from Smith College. For more than a decade, she has surveyed our country’s coastlines — both in the Pacific and the Atlantic — gaining extraordinary expertise. As an Operations Officer, she oversaw the installation and inspection of groundbreaking equipment.
Last Thursday’s change of command ceremony marked her successful completion of one of the most important and demanding jobs a NOAA Corps officer can have: command of a NOAA vessel. Starting immediately, she will continue her service to the NOAA Corps as Chief of the Atlantic Hydrographic Branch in Norfolk.
As Lieutenant Commander Welton prepares for her new assignment, we celebrate her leadership of the Hassler and applaud her selfless service to our country. We know this ship will thrive under the capable command of another proven leader: Lieutenant Commander Matthew Jaskoski.
Throughout his career, Lieutenant Commander Jaskoski has worked to enhance the accuracy of our surveys and make new discoveries about what lies beneath our waters. As an Executive Officer and second-in-command for the NOAA Ship Fairweather, he implemented new field procedures that improved hydrographic surveying. As Senior Watch Officer, he trained and mentored junior officers, teaching them how to capture the intricacies of our most rigorous environments — including Alaska’s Arctic coastlines. And as Atlantic Hydrographic Branch Chief for NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey, he helped create high resolution seafloor models and produce more accurate nautical data.
In every assignment, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Jaskoski has led by example through his commitment to excellence. The NOAA Corps is confident in Lieutenant Commander Jaskoski’s ability and aptitude to lead this crew.
On behalf of the Department of Commerce and the Obama Administration, I congratulated him on becoming the fourth commanding officer of the Ferdinand R. Hassler. The Hassler will continue to contribute extraordinary scientific discoveries under his guidance.
On July 21, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson approved the plan of a mathematics professor at West Point to conduct a survey of our new nation’s coastlines. That professor was Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler. He would go on to become the first superintendent of the Coast Survey — a position he held until the day he died.
Last week’s ceremony took place exactly 209 years from the day that President Jefferson signed off on Hassler’s proposal and spurred scientific discovery for years to come. This commitment to our coasts continues today through the service of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
Whether it is assessing damage after a hurricane or discovering new insights submerged deeply along our coastlines, our country is better off thanks to the commitment of the men and women who serve on this remarkable ship.
To all of the men and women who chart the uncharted and protect lives, property, and the environment:
Thank you for your service.
