The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Sept. 29 the presidential appointment of Rear Adm.(select) Christiaan van Westendorp to serve as the next director of the Office of Coast Survey.
The Office of Coast Survey produces NOAA’s ocean mapping and nautical charting program, which includes surveying the seafloor, developing navigation products, services, and data-driven models, and reopening ports and waterways following disasters.
The Office of Coast Survey's work is fundamental to safe navigation in U.S. waters, the flow of goods through U.S. ports, and the resiliency of coastal economies and environments. The director also represents NOAA and the United States as the National Hydrographer, leading the strategic direction for ocean mapping, meeting U.S. treaty obligations, and building key bilateral relationships.
Van Westendorp currently serves as the director of the NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center. He has served with NOAA and the U.S. Navy since 1999 and has devoted his career to developing and leading the nation's premier mariners, scientists, scientific operators and support staff, while promoting interagency and international advances in hydrography, oceanography and atmospheric sciences.
He has held a wide range of roles within NOS. While in command of the NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson, he led an unprecedented range of missions — from demonstrating the capabilities of uncrewed small craft to conducting emergency response surveys in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricane Maria.
He has served in senior leadership positions within the Office of Coast Survey and NOAA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer. His prior post was as Executive Director to the Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, where he performed the duties of chief of staff and key advisor to NOAA's senior career official on program and policy issues, particularly in the area of workforce wellness.
