The 2015 National Ocean Service (NOS) Employee Recognition and Award Ceremony honored seven NCCOS staff members for outstanding contributions, accomplishments, and coordination efforts within NOS and NOAA. Russell Callender, Acting Assistant Administrator for NOS, and Mary Erickson, Director of NCCOS, presented the awards to the recipients.

The 2015 NCCOS awardees:

Employee of the Year Award
This award recognizes significant contributions to NOS programs and demonstrated exceptional and sustained effort toward accomplishment of the NOS mission.

Employee of the Year (individual)

NCCOS's Randy Clark received an Employee of the Year award. Credit: T. Gill.

Randall (Randy) D. Clark (CCMA) for leading the design and execution of a cross -Line Office, multi-agency coral reef ecosystem monitoring program in the U.S. Caribbean.

Patricia (Pat) Smallwood (CCEHBR) for ensuring required federal security clearances and controls for foreign visitors to all NOS sites as NOS's Controlled Technology Coordinator.

NCCOS's Pat Smallwood (left) was honored with an Employee of the Year award. Credit: T. Gill.

Employee of the Year (group)

Kristine (Kris) Holderied (CCFHR), Michael (Mike) R. Geagel (CCFHR), and Dominic E. Hondolero (CCFHR) for exemplary commitment to supporting formal and informal marine science education, training NOAA employees, and inspiring stewardship of Alaska coastal resources.

Team Member of the Year Award
This award is presented to members of the workforce who are not NOAA federal employees for their contributions as recognized by their peers.

Patrick S. Hurley (CCEHBR) for providing dependable support to scientific activities despite challenging circumstances and delivering that support with an upbeat 'can do' attitude.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity Award
This award recognizes employees who have made exemplary contributions to the NOS EEO and Diversity Program and who have displayed exceptional advances toward the improvement and development of the NOS EEO and Diversity Program.

NCCOS's Dr. Terry McTigue received an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity Award. Credit: J. Wickham.

Teresa (Terry) A. McTigue (CCMA) for wide-reaching education, outreach, mentoring, and behind-the-scenes efforts to support students and scientists at NOAA and the larger community.

In addition, Lyon Lanerolle (NOS Office of Coast Survey) and Robert M. Daniels (NOAA National Weather Service) were awarded Peer Recognition 'Rafting' awards for their support to NCCOS for excellence in the development, support and application of forecast products for the Ecological Forecasting Roadmap Pathogens Team.

The 2015 NOS Employee Recognition and Award Ceremony was held on December 1, 2015 in the NOAA Auditorium in Silver Spring, Maryland.

For more information, contact Steven.Thur@noaa.gov.