2007 RUDE Crew

LCDR Rick Brennan was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. LCDR Brennan started his NOAA career in 1992 aboard NOAA Ship RUDE. Since then he has served on a hydrographic field party, as the officer in charge of the Survey Vessel BAY HYDROGRAPHER, and as the Operations Officer aboard the NOAA Ship WHITING. After completing his assignment aboard the WHITING, he earned a M.S. in Ocean Engineering from the University of New Hampshire where he specialized in Ocean Mapping at NOAA’s Joint Hydrographic Center. Prior to reporting for his second tour on the RUDE, LCDR Brennan was the Chief of NOAA’s Hydrographic Systems and Technology Program where he oversaw the transition to operations of new hydrographic sensors and their associated acquisition and processing software.

The XO earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1994, and was commissioned in the NOAA Corps in 1999. Her first sea tour was aboard the NOAA Ship WHITING, conducting hydrographic surveys throughout the U.S East Coast including Boston, Key West, and Puerto Rico. During this time, WHITING also participated in the USCG search and recovery operations for the downed Egypt Air 990 Aircraft. LT DeHart's second assignment was aboard NOAA’s hydrographic research and development platform, S/V BAY HYDROGRAPHER as Junior Officer in Charge, then as Officer in Charge. Prior to reporting to RUDE, LT DeHart was assigned to NOAA's Hydrographic Surveys Division as a Staff Assistant.

ENS Arnold was recently Commissioned into the NOAA Corps after working for 3 years in the Environmental Field. In 2002, she graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a B.S. in Marine Safety and Environmental Protection. ENS Arnold is very excited to start out her NOAA career on the RUDE and looks forward to many new adventures with NOAA.

Navigation Officer – ENS Glen Rice, Hometown: North Hampton, NH

ENS Glen Rice graduated from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 1999 with a degree in Physics and minors in Oceanography and Ocean Engineering. During his undergraduate career he spent a semester at Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, MA. The six week sailing portion of that semester peaked ENS Rice’s interest in Ocean Science and tall ships. As a result he spent his remaining summers while in school working at the UNH Coastal Marine Laboratory and on tall ships in Bar Harbor, Maine. ENS Rice returned to UNH to work on the Open Ocean Aquaculture Project as a Project Engineer, and obtained his 100 Ton Master Mariners license, basic trimix scuba certification, and a Masters degree in Ocean Engineering. His work at UNH primarily involved managing the logistics of deploying, operating and maintaining large moorings, fish cages, and buoys for feeding fish, 10 km offshore.

Chief Marine Engineer – Charles E Karlsson, Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

CME Karlsson has been with NOAA since 1978. After starting his career on the KELEZ he has sailed aboard the FERREL, PEIRCE, CHAPMAN and WHITING.

Chief Bosun – Gordon Pringle, Hometown: Ibybale, WV

CB Pringle started out his NOAA career on the FERREL in Feb 1972 as an Ordinary Seamen. In his 30+ years with NOAA he has moved up the hawse pipe from OS to CB. He has also served on the WHITING and the MT MITCHELL. Through his dedication and proven asset to NOAA he was awarded the 2001 Employee of the Year. He was also awarded a NOAA Bronze Star for rescuing a man overboard in New York.

AB Newton was born and raised on the Chesapeake Bay. He has had a calling to the water since before he was even born. He began racing sailboats at an early age and has since raced a variety of boats from 11½ ft dingy’s to 65 ft custom built racing machines. Anything that has to do with the water AB Newton is there. He has made a living maintaining boats, is a commercial fisherman, was a relief AB on the Virginia Responder, CAPT of a 60ft motor Yacht for a private foundation and many more. His hobbies include building boats, racing, marine biology, photography, birding, electronics and painting. He looks forward to his new career with NOAA continuing to expand his knowledge for the sea. AB Newton says, “God covered the earth with ¾ of water and we should spend ¾ of our time there.”

Chief Steward – Aceton Burke, Hometown: Norfolk, VA

CS Burke has served aboard several NOAA vessels since starting out his career in 1991. Starting as a Mess men on the MT MITCHELL advancing his way up to Chief Steward. He has also served aboard the ALBATROSS IV, MALCOM BALDRIDGE, DELAWARE II, RONALD H. BROWN, FERREL and the WHITING.  

Assistant Hydrographic Survey Technician(AHST) – Josh Gunter, Hometown: Wilmington, NC

AHST Gunter recently Graduated from Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington NC. He has an AAS Degree in Marine Technology. While in attendance he took 5 training cruises aboard the RV DAN MOORE. He also went out with the USGS and helped with the distribution of buoy’s for sediment monitoring.