The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) is one of the nation’s eight uniformed services and NOAA Corps officers are an integral part of NOAA. With approximately 330 officers and growing, the NOAA Corps supports nearly all of NOAA’s programs and missions. The combination of commissioned service and scientific expertise makes these officers uniquely capable of leading some of NOAA’s most important initiatives. Meet NOAA Corps officer ENS Emily Resendez.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the Navajo Nation in Shiprock, New Mexico.
Where did you go to school and in what subject did you get your degree(s)?
I went to school in Jacksonville, Florida at Jacksonville University and majored in aviation management and flight operations and then later continued to get my Master of Business Administration.
What inspired you to become a NOAA Corps officer?
As a woman in aviation, I used to go to the Women in Aviation conference every year where I was proud to be a part of a slowly growing community. The NOAA Corps had a booth to spotlight the hurricane hunters and the opportunity to be a part of the mission really enticed me. I kept pursuing it until I was accepted into BOTC 142, the basic officer training class that was held in July 2023.
What do you do as a NOAA Corps officer?
I am currently assigned to NOAA Ship Fairweather which is homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska. We collect and provide hydrographic data to support Alaska’s mariners in charting and updating navigational charts. We also are operational experts, learning to drive the ship and navigate around Alaska, as well as keep the crew safe in different operations.
What was one of your favorite missions or experiences?
This is my first assignment as a NOAA Corps officer. During the year we visited many different places in Alaska, and the adventure was something I will never forget. I saw so many things, such as orcas, puffins, bears, the northern lights, that I would never get a chance to see otherwise, and may never have another opportunity to see. I fell in love with the wildness of Alaska and I will never forget my time aboard the Fairweather.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a NOAA Corps Officer?
Stay the course. You may not end up where you thought you would, but every assignment is as good as you make it.
What does Native American Heritage Month mean to you?
It means a lot to me because it meant a lot to my mom. My mom was very proud to be a Navajo but she also knew the reservation was a hard place to raise children. On the rez we lived in poverty. She knew it would be tough for me to get a good education there and would have few opportunities to make a sustainable living. So, she did what she had to do and worked hard to raise my sister and me off the reservation. Since then, she was always so proud of what I accomplished because it was so far from where we started. As my sister and I grew up she felt more secure in our futures. Leaving the reservation was hard for her though, and even through all the changes, she never forgot where we came from. She’s gone now, but I'm still so thankful for her sacrifice and bravery. I would never have been able to join the NOAA Corps without her. Native American Heritage Month means that I can celebrate my heritage while also celebrating what natives are capable of. My mom was strong, determined, and the bravest woman I will ever know. This month is for her.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to cook, paint, draw, and sing badly.