Junior Officer of the Year

For exceptional dedication, leadership, and innovation, LT Kelly Wooten is recognized as the 2025 Junior Officer of the Year for her transformative contributions to the Commissioned Personnel Center (CPC) and the NOAA Corps. As the inaugural Special Projects Coordinator, she spearheaded the overhaul of CPC’s intranet, established a standardized NOAA Diver Insignia issuance process, and led the first comprehensive billet review in over a decade, significantly modernizing officer assignment procedures. Her coordination of the Biennial Officer Review Board, leadership in awards process reform, and strategic liaison roles within CPC and the NJAC demonstrate her relentless pursuit of operational excellence. LT Wooten’s unwavering commitment, visionary problem-solving, and profound impact across the Corps exemplify the highest standards of service and make her distinctly deserving of the 2025 ACO Junior Officer of the Year Award.

Lieutenant Terril Efird is awarded the 2023 NOAA ACO Junior Officer of the Year award for his extraordinary performance and contribution to Marine Operations. LT Effird instituted real change to NOAA's marine staffing during a time of unprecedented change. He took on responsibilities far above his pay grade. Excelling in an O-5 position, he has not only demonstrated competencies in leading performance and change, but as a Junior Officer, led organizational change across Marine Operations and made impacts that will last well into the future. He implemented enhanced shore leave, operationalized crew rotations, coordinated the Marine Operations Leadership Summit, and participated in MO's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Council.

In order to continue to execute its scientific missions, Marine Operations must become a competitive employer in the maritime industry and secure its position as a place where professional mariners want to come to work and stay. From an outside-the-box approach to staffing, to improved processes for moving mariners among the ships, to how the fleet views diversity, equity and inclusion, LT Efird has been, and continues to be, instrumental to the success of NOAA Marine Operations

His unswerving dedication, consistent high performance, and remarkable contributions to NOAA are why he is well-deserving of this distinguished honor.

Lieutenant Kyle Cosentino is awarded the 2022 NOAA ACO Junior Officer of the Year award for his extraordinary performance and contribution to AOC's operational success in 2022. His diligent commitment resulted in over 495 flight hours, representing over 10% of AOC's total. His exemplary leadership, instructional capacity, and unwavering dedication cultivated a growing cadre of Twin Otter pilots, ensuring seamless progression of novice aviators through initial and upgrade training programs. When faced with an instructor shortage, LT Cosentino navigated the challenge with resolve, leading multiple daily flights, and accomplishing significant upgrading event completions. His leadership in the King Air program was critical for AOC’s future success. As a flight crew leader, he executed 100% of tasked Alaska lines during the snow season, providing crucial data in a record snowfall year and contributing to flood risk assessment. As an integral member of the AOC Training Team, LT Cosentino's compassionate leadership and mentorship have played a pivotal role in shaping the development of upcoming aviators. His meticulous scheduling, careful budget management, and innovative use of SmartSheets workflow have led to a significant 75% growth in funded and executed training events. His unswerving dedication, consistent high performance, and remarkable contributions to NOAA are why he is well-deserving of this distinguished honor. 

Lieutenant Brianna Evancoe is awarded the 2021 NOAA Association of Commissioned Officers Junior Officer of the Year award for her outstanding performance as Operations Officer Marine Operations Center - Pacific Islands (OPS MOC-Pl). LT Evancoe streamlined high-value Inter-Agency Agreements (IAAs) with Navy Base Guam (NBG) and Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH). Specifically, $73k supported NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette (SE) in-ports at NBG, and $1.8M secured mission critical utilities at JBPHH. Chair for the Inouye Regional Center (IRC) Information Technology (IT) Working Group, LT Evacnoe presented the FY22 IT budget and IT upgrade proposals to the IRC Campus Management Board. As OPS MOC-PI, LT Evancoe excessed $1.9M in property and removed 3k lbs of scrap metal for platform storage. Additionally, with Navy buy-in, LT Evancoe replaced dangerously undersized fenders along the two MOC-PI piers. Finally, LT Evancoe forward deployed to Guam and provided on-site support for SE in-port logistics. LT Evancoe's consistent high performance, positive representation of NOAA Corps to our IRC and Navy partners, and her contributions to NOAA Marine Operations are why she is well-deserving of this coveted honor. 

In recognition of remarkable accomplishments with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) Marine Mammal and Turtle Division (MMTD) through innovative pandemic mission development and implementation, particularly with respect to center UAS program efforts; furthering NOAA Corps visibility and recruitment through multiple volunteer activities; and alertly and skillfully diffusing and preventing a potentially disastrous major diving incident. 

In recognition of remarkable accomplishments with the U.S. National Ice Center for development and oversight of numerous short to long-range projects; acting as NOAA and Navy representative to multiple interagency and international partners; identification and reduction of analysis redundancies in support of critical ice forecasting; creating interagency cost savings; and furthering NOAA research efforts. 

For her many outstanding accomplishments during her billet assignment as Vessel Operations Coordinator at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS). Through innovation, hard work, and attention to duty, she significantly improved GRNMS vessel and dive operations and emergency planning; more than doubled the vessel's operational budget, authored a scientific paper, and assumed critical GRNMS leadership positions. 

LT Dwyer received this award for her display of outstanding leadership and technical acumen as a Division Officer of a Navy Underwater Vehicle Platoon for the Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Command. As the leader of the Command's newly established 1st Platoon, LT Dwyer built a platoon of 12 sailors from its inception and increased the Command's capability to support Navy mine warfare operations worldwide by 25%. Her exceptional leadership, mission planning, and technical support in this role resulted in being awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for outstanding support. Upon identifying qualification shortfalls within her platoon, she earned qualifications as Unmanned Underwater Vehicle operator and coxswain to expand the capability and flexibility of her team. LT Dwyer's exceptional accomplishments and leadership example have led to a strengthened partnership between NOAA and the Navy with an increased desire for more and continued integration 

For his significant leadership and effectiveness in coordinating NOAA's contribution to The American Practical Navigator (Bowditch), overseeing the development of the international S-412 "Weather Overlay" Product Specification for integrating weather information into shipboard Electronic Charting Display Information Systems, mentoring Univ. of Maryland student intern, and serving as Decision Support Services Meteorologist at the Dept. of Homeland Security. 

A hearty Bravo Zulu to LTJG Douglas Pawlishen! The exemplary work of LTJG Pawlishen was recognized this week by the Association of Commissioned Officers at the Reserve Officers Association annual convention in Reno, NV. Alongside RADM David A. Score, LTJG Douglas Pawlishen received the 2015 Junior Officer of the Year Award for leadership, commitment to service, and fiscal ingenuity as Officer in Charge of R/V Gloria Michelle. He is also the recipient of the Engineering Awards for innovation and technical expertise in leading the work on the vessel to restore legacy sytems (systems that your's truly probably installed!) Congratulations to LTJG Douglas Pawlishen. As a reminder to all NOAA Corps Officers, ACO award nominations are solicited in the beginning of the calendar year so be on the lookout for the next opportunity.  

For her outstanding performance as Operations Officer on the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. LT Guberski successfully submitted 13 hydrographic projects, ensuring mariners received critical safety of navigation data in a timely manner.

Is recognized for his outstanding achievements as aircraft commander on NOAA's Gulfstream (G-IV) and Twin Otter (DHC-6) aircraft as well as his contributions as a maintenance staff officer at NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center.

On Friday, August 9, 2013, at the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) annual conference, LT Joshua Slater was presented the 2012 Junior Officer of the Year award. LT Slater was honored to receive the award and represented NOAA Corps with warmth and humility. A portion of his award nomination follows: LT Slater is recognized for his outstanding achievements as Operations Officer aboard Nancy Foster. His proactive approach led to maximum utilization of the platform, minimum down-time and a well-trained proficient junior officer staff. LT Slater's actions while in the role of Acting Executive Officer showed his high level of dedication and diplomacy. He is well respected by scientific programs and the crew of Nancy Foster. An officer of extraordinary character, LT Slater has shown great competence in emergencies. During a TDY assignment in Hawaii, LT Slater rescued a woman and two children from drowning and directed others on the beach to perform emergency tasking while he initiated lifesaving actions until EMS arrived. LT Slater is an exemplary officer and reflects very positively on the NOAA Corps. 

This award is given in recognition of your outstanding accomplishments, and reflects superbly on your dedication to the ideals of the NOAA Corps as well as your commitment to accomplishing NOAA's mission goals.

It is with great pleasure that I inform you of your selection as the 2010 NOAA Corps Junior Officer of the Year by the National ACO awards committee. Your outstanding accomplishments as a well-rounded NOAA Corps officer have reflected superbly on yourself, the Corps, and NOAA. The values that you exude as a NOAA Corps officer are of the highest standard, and the example you have set through your career thus far is a bar that all officers should aspire to attain in their career. Your dedicated service during the Deepwater Horizon incident response, pledge to share Nancy Foster data under FOIA, excellent community outreach, and assistance in a humanitarian aid mission are but a few of the examples of your exemplary accomplishments as a junior officer. I commend you on your endeavors, and am proud to serve alongside you. Congratulations! 

As the Field Operations Officer on NOAA Ship Okcanos Explorer (OE), Lieutenant VerPlanck performed with distinction as she planned and successfully executed complex expeditions on OE in collaboration with NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER). Expeditions on board the EX are highly specialized and can include any combination of remotely operated vehicle operations, mapping, and remote science using live ship-to-shore telepresence technology. Through a very strategic integration process that began with her previous shore billet with OER at the University of Rhode Island (URI), Lieutenant VerPlanck became familiar with these highly technical operations applied specifically for the purpose of systematic ocean exploration. Through Lieutenant VerPlanck's efficient organizational skills and her desire to learn about every aspect of our operation, she helped OER move some very complex efforts forward. Lieutenant VerPlanck continues to work with OER and OMAO personnel to define the EX FOO position as it evolves, and went well beyond the call of duty this field season to ensure the success of the EX during extraordinarily challenging times when operations shifted from a focus on ROV shakedown and field trials to back-to-back mapping operations due to a mechanical failure in the ROV. She also played a crucial role this field season as ship liaison for several technical contracts associated with the integration of ROV' s, and integration and shakedown of VSAT (telepresence) systems, and the new EM302 multibeam mapping system on board the EX.