The Director of the Office of Coast Survey leads 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 ensuring safe navigation in US waters, the flow of goods through US 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 US treaty obligations, and building key bilateral relationships.

Rear Adm. (sel.) van Westendorp currently serves as the Director of the NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center. He has served with NOAA and the US 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 US 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 the 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.