Officers
Commanding Officer
Joseph Pica
Deck Officers
Richard “Pat” Patana
Nicola VerPlanck
Matthew Griffin
Benjamin Bloss
Medical Officer
Vanessa Hadley
Crew
Engineering Officers
Robert Dennis
Ricardo Gabona
Deck Department
Carl VerPlanck
James Deeton
Mark Walker
Engineering
Margret Collins
Jim Watkins
Electronics
Richard Conway
Eric Thompson
Jim Kintzele
Kirk Andreopoulos
Stewards
Kenneth Wells
Nathan Thomas
Jack Standfast
Survey
Elaine Stuart
Colleen Peters
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, “America’s Ship for Ocean Exploration” Explorers
Joseph Pica
Commanding Officer
Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois
A commissioned officer for 16 years, CDR Pica’s breadth of experience and training has prepared him for his current assignment. CDR Pica has seven years of sea duty aboard four NOAA ships, serving as a Navigator, Divemaster, Emergency Medical Technician, Senior Watch Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer; culminating in his current role as Commanding Officer. His shore assignments have included Chief, Officer Career Management Division; Staff Assistant, Office of the Under Secretary; Associate Director, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory; and Hydrologist, Northwest River Forecast Center.
CDR Pica is a graduate of NOAA’s Leadership Competencies Development Program (LCDP), during which he completed a developmental rotation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He also is the principal author of the NOAA Corps Leadership Development Framework, a document that defines for the first time how NOAA Corps officers will build their leadership competencies from ensign to admiral.
CDR Pica holds a Masters degree in Civil Engineering from Portland State University and a Bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois.
CDR Pica is the eldest of nine children of Arsenio (Sam) and Ann Pica of Fairbury, Illinois.
Richard “Pat” Patana
Executive Officer/Mate
Hometown: Chinook, WA
Pat grew up in a fishing family, where everyone worked on the water. He began running boats professionally at the age of 16. Pat enjoys being social with the crew when in port, and playing in small boats. He is a world class carver and builds model hydroplanes. Before joining NOAA, Pat worked as a Maritime Instructor at Clatsap Community College in Astoria, OR for 8 years. He has now been with NOAA for over 15 years.
Nicola VerPlanck
Operations Officer
Hometown: California
Nicola VerPlanck is originally from California but grew up on a 43ft boat sailing in the South Pacific. She earned a Bachelor of Sciences and Masters of Sciences both in Ocean Engineering from Florida Tech in 2001 and 2003. Before joining the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer her NOAA career included working as part of an ROV team with NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration in Narragansett, RI and conducting hydrographic survey to update NOAA's nautical charts in Alaska onboard the NOAA Ship Rainier."
ENS Matthew Griffin
Junior Officer
Hometown: Luling, LA
Matthew graduated from the University of New Orleans with degrees in Geography and Anthropology. He then went on to be a Computer Cartographer before joining NOAA Corps. Matthew aspires to be a “good ship driver” for NOAA. Skiing, reading, archaeology and water sports are his hobbies. He also enjoys telling people how absurd it is to jump out of airplanes.
Benjamin Bloss
Junior Officer
Hometown: Akron, OH
ENS Benjamin Bloss moved from Sydney, Australia to Ann Arbor,. Michigan in April 2008 take up the position of operations manager for SeaView Systems Inc. For the previous 15 years he was the owner/operator of an electrical contracting company and provided business management consulting and ROV technical support to SeaView Systems.
Robert Dennis
Chief Marine Engineer
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Bob worked as a Chief Engineer for Blue North Fisheries in Alaska and Samoa for 14 years. He joined NOAA to have a less stressful job. Bob is a NOAA diver, and enjoys competitive shooting and fast cars.
Ricardo Gabona
2nd Assistant Engineer
Hometown: Oak Harbor, WA
Ricardo served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years. He looks forward to working with NOAA to be involved in scientific operations and enjoys the change of pace. When at home, Ricardo likes to garden and tinker with woodworking.
Alan Bennett
3rd Assistant Engineer
Hometown: Lakewood, OH
Al enjoys hunting and swimming. He has two daughters and one son who live in Greensboro, NC.
Vanessa Hadley
Medical Officer
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Vanessa, a Family Nurse Practitioner, was in the Army and also worked for the Veteran’s Affairs as a primary care provider. For the last three years, Vanessa lived in Bethel, Barrow and Fairbanks, Alaska working with the Native Alaskan community. Vanessa has a BSN from George Mason University and a MSN from UCLA. She is looking forward to sailing with NOAA.
Carl VerPlanck
Chief Boatswain
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Been on NANCY FOSTER since, February 2006.
Carl worked on the Rainier for 5 years and was in the augmentation pool for two years where he worked on the Nancy Foster and Albatross IV.
Jeffrey Brawley
Bosun Group Leader
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Jeff has enjoyed his 25 year + career working on deck for NOAA. His repertoire includes the following NOAA ships: Nancy Foster, Rude, Whiting, Kai'imimoana, Researcher, Mount Mitchell and Pierce. In his free time, Jeff enjoys golf, bicycling, exercise and movies.
Peter Lavelle
Able-Bodied Seaman
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Peter graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD with a degree in Liberal Arts. He then worked for MSC as an officer for 7 years. Peter then received a graduate degree in Maritime Management from Maine Maritime Academy. After working for International Paper, managing the International Export and Shipping Business for 20 years, Peter joined NOAA to renew his deck license. In his off-time, Peter enjoys reading, listening to music and traveling.
James Deeton
General Vessel Assistant
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
A graduate of Del Mar College, in Corpus Christi, TX, James has several degrees: an AAS in electronic communication servicing and an AAS in Computer Information Systems Network Technology. James like to fish and learn about astronomy. He has worked on the NOAA Ships Nancy Foster, Albatross IV, and Kai'imimoana in the deck and engine departments.
Mark Walker
General Vessel Assistant
Hometown: Perth Amboy, NJ
Mark spent 20 years in the Navy in the electronics department. He also worked for MSC as a supply utilityman. The Okeanos Explorer is Mark’s first NOAA ship—he aspires to work in the electronics department with NOAA. In his free time, Mark enjoys lifting weights, playing basketball, and eating spaghetti.
Margret Collins
General Vessel Assistant
Hometown: The World
A former Marine (oohrah!), Maggie also graduated from Evergreen State College. She aspires to live in Australia, loves music, reading, exercise and travel. She wishes to someday own a vespa. Maggie is also knows for painting her tools pink so that the guys won’t use them.
Jim Watkins
General Vessel Assistant
Hometown: Lebanon, OR
Jim enjoys fishing and kayaking. He has also worked on the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson.
Kevin Moran
Able-Bodied Seaman
Hometown: Naples, Florida
A beach bum and sun worshipper, Kevin has worked on yachts, military and commercial vessels of all types and assignments in both the deck and engine departments. He is also a skier, sailor, and traveler.
Richard Conway
Chief Electronics Technician
Hometown: Lynnwood, WA
#1 Fan of the Seattle Seahawks, Richard also likes roller coasters, designing logos, brochures, and Christmas cards and is abnormally happy. 5 years in NOAA, Richard has worked on the NOAA Ship Fairweather.
Eric Thompson
Chief Electronics Technician
Hometown: Ventura, CA
Eric served in the U.S. Navy for 8 years aboard the USS Keywest SSN 722, with short patrols on the USS Cincinnati SSN 693 and USS Atlanta SSN 712 as Sonar Supervisor, Scuba Diver and Sonar Technician. Following the Navy, Eric attended Nevada Community College and worked for Raytheon for 6 years. He has worked for NOAA for the past 3 years aboard the Thomas Jefferson. Eric’s hobbies include scuba diving and surfing.
Jim Kintzele
Chief Electronics Technician
Hometown: Michigan City, IN
Born and raised in Michigan City, IN, Jim served in the U.S. Navy for 5 years. The Navy brought him west, and he now resides in Mt. Vernon, WA. Jim has also worked on the NOAA Ships Miller Freeman, David Starr Jordan, Oscar Dyson (for the middle of the Bering Sea small-boat- transfer-ET-to-the-rescue adventure!) and the McArthur II.
Kirk Andreopoulos
Chief Electronics Technician
Hometown: Piraeus, Greece
Kirk served 26 ½ years in the U.S. Navy as a Data System Technician, and retired as Senior Chief. Kirk also has a B.S. in Training Education & Development with a minor in Workforce Management from the University of Southern Illinois. He has worked for Defense contractors, Comtek, PRC, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics Information Technology working on grooming navy vessels and submarines. The Okeanos Explorer is Kirk’s first NOAA assignment. He now resides in Virginia Beach, VA..
Kenneth Wells
Chief Steward
Hometown: Lynden, WA
Ken has been sailing for 30 years between the Navy and NOAA. He is also a University of Washington Huskies fan.
Nathan Thomas
2nd Cook
Hometown: San Francisco via Minden, NV
Nate’s loves listening to and making music, his favorite band is Rancid. His NOAA experience includes fishing in the Bering Sea, sailing to Antarctica, working in the both the deck department and galley. Nate enjoys jumping out of perfectly good airplanes and aspires to accomplish everything on his “To Do” list before he dies.
Jack Standfast
General Vessel Assistant
Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL
Jack is married and has 2 daughters in college. A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, he also enjoys road racing and the outdoors. Jack was a residential built-in appliance installation contractor for Sears before joining NOAA. Jack also served in the U.S. Navy as a snipe (engineer) on a repair ship submarine tender and an aircraft carrier.
Elaine Stuart
Senior Survey
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Elaine has been sailing with NOAA since 2000 on the Rainier, Oscar Elton Sette and Kai'imimoana. Elaine is excited to get back into mapping and work with ROVs. Elaine enjoys horseback riding, dirty martinis and Hello Kitty. She is also excited at the prospect of initiating her pollywog shipmates when the EX heads south!
Colleen Peters
Senior Survey
Hometown: Trumbull, Connecticut
Colleen has been working on a variety of ships, both sailing and motor, since high school. A Maine Maritime Academy graduate, Colleen is exited to start the ship’s store, have a roommate who also likes the color pink, and to finally be going somewhere warm. For NOAA, she has also worked in the Bering Sea aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson. Colleen enjoys the occasional cosmopolitan and collects rubber duckies.
