The U.S. Senate confirmed President Biden’s nomination of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Rear Admiral Nancy Hann to lead the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps), one of the nation’s eight uniformed services, according to the NOAA website.

“From flying into hurricanes to crewing remote explorations to the deepest depths of the ocean, the NOAA Corps drives NOAA’s science forward,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “Rear Admiral Hann’s leadership will continue to advance how we understand our planet through key observational platforms.”

As director of OMAO and the NOAA Corps, Hann will be responsible for NOAA’s fleet of 15 research and survey ships, nine aircraft, and the uncrewed systems operations program, as well as guiding the approximately 330 uniformed officers and 1,000 civilian personnel assigned to OMAO and the NOAA Corps.

Hann has served in many operational and management assignments during her NOAA career, most recently as OMAO’s deputy director for operations and deputy director of the NOAA Corps. Hann has served aboard NOAA aircraft as both a pilot and flight meteorologist, and has supported a variety of scientific missions and multiple uncrewed aircraft missions as a pilot and project manager.

Her previous experience includes serving as associate director at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, NOAA liaison to the U.S. Pacific Command, executive officer at the NOAA Marine Operations Center-Atlantic, OMAO chief of staff and commanding officer of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center. She is a certified diver with many scientific and working dives.

Hann holds a master’s degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a master’s degree in aeronautical science and space studies from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a bachelor’s degree in marine science and biology from the University of San Diego

For more information, visit noaa.gov.