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DECK OFFICERS

The officers are women and men responsible for safely operating the research vessel. They are trained in ship handling, navigation, weather observation, safety, and shipboard emergencies. The Captain, or Commanding Officer (CO) is in command of the ship. The Executive Officer (XO) handles the administrative functions of the ship, hires and/or dismisses employees, supervises all department heads (with the exception of the Chief Marine Engineer), and acts as the ships safety officer. The Field Operations Officer (FOO) handles logistics with scientific parties, making sure scientific activities can be performed aboard the ship. The Navigation Officer (NAV) is in charge of navigation equipment, nautical charts and publications, meteorological data, and maintaining the overall condition of the bridge. The Junior Officers and Third Mate take care of all the other unassigned duties. All the NOAA Corps officers and the Third Mate stand watches on the bridge.

XO

Executive Officer - Chief Mate Donn Pratt, Hometown: Seattle, Washington

J.O.

Field Operations Officer - ENS Adrienne Hopper Hometown: Portage, Michigan

ENS Hopper graduated from Michigan State University with High Honors earning her Bachelors Degree in Zoology with a minor in Marine Biology. Winning the 2006 Women’s Water Polo National Championship was the highlight of her 4 years as a student athlete at MSU. A summer internship took her to Juno Beach, Florida. SCUBA certified, she tagged and monitored the local Hawksbill Sea Turtle population and protected the nesting habitat of Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Upon graduation, ENS Hopper worked as a research associate for a biomedical research lab conducting preclinical pharmaceutical testing before joining the NOAA Corps. She reported for duty aboard GORDON GUNTER on June 11, 2007.

J.O.

Navigation Officer - ENS Michael Robbie Hometown: Warwick, Pennsylvania

ENS Robbie was heavily active in his Boy Scout troop for eight years, earning his Eagle Scout rank. He cites skills and knowledge learned in the scouts as the main factors behind his educational and career decisions. He attended the University of Miami and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and Mathematics. ENS Robbie reported for duty aboard GORDON GUNTER in December 2008.

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•  Updated: June 30, 2009