U.S. Secretary of Commerce Delivers Remarks at the NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler Change-of-Command Ceremony

Good afternoon. Rear Admiral Score, Officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, friends and family -- it is an honor to join you for this special occasion. Today, we observe a transfer of leadership between two decorated and devoted officers -- Lieutenant Commander Matthew Jaskoski and Lieutenant Commander Briana Welton. Before I speak to the character and capability of these two officers, let us reflect on the critical contributions made by the NOAA Commissioned Corps -- especially you, the officers and crew who serve aboard the NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler.

At the Department of Commerce, the NOAA Commissioned Corps play a pivotal role in our mission to ensure that communities and businesses have the information they need to prosper in a changing environment. Each day, 321 NOAA Commissioned Corps officers advance scientific exploration of our country's coastlines and lakefronts. From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of the Atlantic and the Pacific, the environmental data you gather: promotes more resilient communities, ensures the safety of our citizens, preserves our natural resources, and protects our nation's economic security.

In the four years since the Hassler was commissioned, it has completed 46 hydrographic surveys -- providing valuable information about our coasts. Just a few months after the ship set sail for the first time, Hurricane Sandy struck. Several ships were stranded up and down the East Coast at damaged ports. In the wake of devastation and destruction, the Hassler swiftly deployed. The crew searched for dangers to navigation routes in the ports of Hampton Roads and Baltimore. Using innovative side scan and multi-beam sonar technologies, the Hassler's emergency surveys located navigational hazards caused by the hurricane that threatened nearby ships.

As a result of the expertise of the NOAA Corps officers and crew and the capability of their equipment, ports reopened more quickly, and commercial, military, and recreational traffic resumed. The Northeast began to rebuild much faster because of this vital work. This is just one of several success stories made possible by the Hassler. These contributions are a testament to you, the officers and crew who work daily to make it easier for Americans to navigate our waters. But it also speaks volumes about the role of a NOAA survey ship's commanding officer: he individual charged with ensuring safe and efficient operation of the vessel; the individual charged with acting as the chief scientist and senior program representative; and the individual charged with completing hydrographic surveys that are delivered to the Office of Coast Survey.

Lieutenant Commander Briana Welton has exemplified excellence since assuming command of the Hassler in November 2015. Her time in the NOAA Corps began in 2003, when she received her commission after graduating from Smith College. For more than a decade, she has surveyed our country's coastlines -- both in the Pacific and the Atlantic -- gaining extraordinary expertise. As an Operations Officer, she oversaw the installation and inspection of groundbreaking equipment. Today, she successfully completes one of the most important and demanding jobs a NOAA Corps officer can have: command of a NOAA vessel. Starting immediately, she will continue her service to the NOAA Corps as Chief of the Atlantic Hydrographic Branch here in Norfolk. Lieutenant Commander Welton, as you prepare for your new assignment, we celebrate your leadership of the Hassler and applaud your selfless service to our country. Thank you, Lieutenant Commander Welton.

As you transfer to your next post, we can all take comfort in knowing this ship will thrive under the capable command of another proven leader: Lieutenant Commander Matthew Jaskoski. Throughout his career, Lieutenant Commander Jaskoski has worked to enhance the accuracy of our surveys and make new discoveries about what lies beneath our waters. As an Executive Officer and second-in-command for the NOAA Ship Fairweather, he implemented new field procedures that improved hydrographic surveying. As Senior Watch Officer, he trained and mentored junior officers, teaching them how to capture the intricacies of our most rigorous environments -- including Alaska's Arctic coastlines. And as Atlantic Hydrographic Branch Chief for NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, he helped create high resolution seafloor models and produce more accurate nautical data. In every assignment, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Jaskoski has led by example through his commitment to excellence. Lieutenant Commander Jaskoski, the NOAA Corps is confident in your ability and aptitude to lead this crew. On behalf of the Department of Commerce and the Obama Administration, I congratulate you on becoming the fourth commanding officer of the Ferdinand R. Hassler.

We know that the Hassler will continue to contribute extraordinary scientific discoveries under your guidance. On this day in 1807, President Thomas Jefferson approved the plan of a mathematics professor at West Point to conduct a survey of our new nation's coastlines. That professor was Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler. He would go on to become the first superintendent of the Coast Survey -- a position he held until the day he died. His commitment to our coasts continues today through your service. Whether it is assessing damage after a hurricane or discovering new insights submerged deeply along our coastlines, our country is better off thanks to the commitment of the men and women who serve on this remarkable ship.

Ferdinand Hassler's legacy of exploration and scientific discovery will continue on under the capable leadership of Lieutenant Commander Jaskoski, just as it has under Lieutenant Commander Welton. To all of you, the men and women who chart the uncharted while protecting lives, property, and the environment: thank you for your service.

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