NEW ORLEANS——U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (Naval Oceanography) was featured on the grand re-opening of the Audubon Aquarium for World Oceans Day, June 8.
The New Orleans Audubon Aquarium re-opened for enterprise after an extended shutdown as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
As an invited visitor to the World Oceans Day occasion, Naval Oceanography was capable of showcase its mission and the personnel who make it occur.
Taking part Naval Oceanography representatives had been: Emily Bodin, Oceanographer at Naval Oceanographic Workplace (NAVO); Lieutenant Jai Chappell, Meteorology and Oceanography Officer at Naval Oceanography; Aerographer’s (AG) Mate Second Class Petty Officer Eric Corkern, Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Heart (NOMWC); and Aerographer’s Mate Third Class Petty Officer Lars Cheatham, NOMWC.
“I used to be amazed on the stage of curiosity from each youngsters and adults…the group was definitely conversant in the Navy, which allowed us [Naval Oceanography] to simply expound upon the mission we conduct within the ocean, contemplating it was World Oceans Day,” mentioned Chappell.
Contained in the New Orleans Aquarium, Naval Oceanography featured: two unmanned underwater automobiles (UUV); informational content material; mission accomplishments; broken UUV nosecones attacked by sharks; and ocean flooring samples/artifacts.
The 2 UUVs current on the occasion—utilized by Naval Oceanography—had been the Slocum Glider, an autonomous UUV used to gather a wide range of oceanographic information to know ocean water columns across the globe; and the Mk 18 Mod 1 Swordfish UUV, able to performing low-visible exploration and reconnaissance, and hydrographic mapping.
The attending viewers rapidly gravitated to Naval Oceanography Sailors in uniform, but it surely was NAVO’s Bodin as its civilian part—with compelling, hands-on artifacts from her Geology Lab—that garnered important consideration to the Naval Oceanography exhibit.
“Ocean flooring samples from our [NAVO] Geology Lab are at all times fascinating to folks once they notice the depths of the ocean which they had been collected, and the precious info seafloor sediments can present to the Fleet,” mentioned Bodin.
As a U.S. Navy Civilian, Bodin—not solely—clearly understands her company’s mission throughout the Division of Protection and Navy, but additionally challenges confronted in hiring the mandatory civilian expertise to proceed the essential work in sustaining Nationwide Safety and Pursuits.
Bodin spoke with an area New Orleans all-news radio station, WWL FM 105.3, and didn’t hesitate to advertise the U.S. Navy as a viable employer for civilian work.
“I wished to emphasise the significance of the METOC neighborhood’s efforts not solely presently, however in years to return, by highlighting the work of Federal-Civilian workers and the way we play a significant function within the continuity of mission readiness and execution,” mentioned Bodin.
Naval Oceanography is co-located within the Gulf Coast area with the Audubon Aquarium, with New Orleans-native AG2 Corkern supporting additionally making connection extra private as friends realized the hometown commonality.
“I by no means thought after becoming a member of the Navy I’d be residence [ New Orleans], inside place I visited a number of occasions as a child, and sharing useful experiences I’ve had to this point in my careers as a Sailor. . .it was actually an honor!,” mentioned Corkern.
Naval Oceanography has roughly 2,500 globally distributed army and civilian personnel, who accumulate, course of and exploit environmental info to help Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to ensure the U.S. Navy’s freedom of motion within the bodily battlespace from the depths of the ocean to the celebrities.
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