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BOTC 137

Class Number
137
Ensign Daniel Lucas

Ensign Lucas’ first at-sea experience was through the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, MA, with whom he conducted physical oceanographic research while sailing aboard the Corwith Cramer. He graduated from Warren Wilson College in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. While in college, he was heavily involved with the campus livestock farm and served as the sheep manager. During his last semester, he interned with the NASA DEVELOP National Program, developing a tool that produces near real time snowmelt maps of Alaska. 

After graduation, he worked as an educator and deckhand aboard two tall ships: Schooner Adventuress, WA and Clearwater, NY. In 2019, Ensign Lucas worked as a boat captain, naturalist and guide for the Glacier Park Boat Company. He then spent a year building a sustainable house in the South-West of France, using locally-sourced materials. Ensign Lucas loves sailing, backpacking, and looking at old maps. He is excited to serve within an organization that is at the forefront of climate research and ecosystem surveying. 

 

Ensign Shellyann Rofrits

Ensign Rofrits graduated from Hawaii Pacific University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. Prior to joining the NOAA Corps, Ensign Rofrits was President of Dive Oahu, in Honolulu, HI, as well as a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Emergency First Response Instructor, and 100-ton Boat Captain. She graduated with distinction with a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Hawaii Pacific University in 2020. During graduate school, Ensign Rofrits worked as a Hyperbaric Chamber Operator at Kuakini Medical Center and volunteered at the Waikiki Aquarium. Her enthusiasm for uniform service was influenced by her father who retired from the United States Army after over 20 years of dedicated service. Ensign Rofrits is passionate about the sustainability of our oceans and making the world a better place. She enjoys hiking, surfing, diving, fishing, and being on or in the ocean. Ensign Rofrits looks forward to supporting and furthering the mission of the NOAA Corps. 

 

Ensign Aaron Macy

Prior to joining NOAA Corps, Ensign Macy recently completed his dissertation at the University of South Alabama, studying carbon and nitrogen dynamics in marshes experiencing mangrove encroachment. He complimented his graduate work with citizen science projects, creating and coordinating an extension education program and many outreach opportunities. In 2020, he was hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to aid in data management and biotechnology initiatives, facilitated by NOAA’s John A. Knauss Fellowship. 

Ensign Macy originally hails from central Illinois and sought adventure through the study of our oceans, a passion cultivated while earning his B.S. in Oceanography from the Florida Institute of Technology. Internships supporting diverse marine ecology research interests granted him field excursions to the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Indian Ocean, Bering Sea, and several locations along the Southeastern United States. The fascinating diversity and interactions between ecosystems is an endless draw to explore and to support NOAA’s missions.

 

Ensign Cara Geiger

Ensign Geiger graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology and Ocean Sciences and Coastal Studies. She was a member of the Millersville Women’s Golf Team and President of Millersville’s Helping Paws, a group created to raise money for local animal shelters and societies. Her undergraduate research involved studying sea surface temperature in the Bay of Bengal using remote sensing. Before graduating, she had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans, Louisiana and present her research at the American Geophysical Union. Ensign Geiger received her Professional Science Master’s in Climate Change and Society from North Carolina State University. She worked at the State Climate Office of North Carolina studying heat stress effects on livestock in the northeast. In 2019 Ensign Geiger enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served a year and a half at Station Hatteras Inlet in Hatteras, North Carolina. While there, she was a member of the deck department and contributed to search and rescue operations. Her unit received the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for their efforts in assisting Hatteras and Ocracoke islands after Hurricane Dorian in September of 2019. Her desire to combine service and science led her to join the NOAA Corps. Ensign Geiger is excited to pursue her passion for the weather, climate, and coastal environment while also contributing to NOAA’s missions.

 

Ensign Caroline Jahn

Ensign Caroline Jahn graduated from Warren Wilson College in 2017 with a double major in environmental studies and chemistry. She conducted her undergraduate research on the effects of agricultural byproducts on groundwater quality. In 2018, she worked on a research project with the NASA DEVELOP national program to develop a near real time fire risk monitoring tool for wildfire managers in Alaska utilizing NASA and NOAA remote sensing data. Ensign Jahn enjoys outdoor recreation, traveling, and gardening. Her passion for environmental stewardship and scientific research led her to join the NOAA Corps and she is proud to support NOAA’s diverse missions by serving as a NOAA Corps Officer.

 

Ensign Austin Gearty

Ensign Gearty is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He graduated from the California State University Maritime Academy in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, minoring in Marine Science, and his USCG 3rd Officer’s Unlimited Tonnage License. In the Fall of 2017 Ensign Gearty began a master’s program at the Estuary & Ocean Science Center, an environmental research facility operated by San Francisco State University in Tiburon, CA. He was part of the first cohort of RIPTIDES (Research Intensive Pedagogical Training of InterDisciplinary Estuarine Scientists), a National Science Foundation research traineeship focused on developing graduates to tackle global issues such as climate change, sea level rise, and loss of biodiversity. His thesis work focused on understanding the environmental factors that influence growth and reproductive rates of a dominant copepod in the northern San Francisco estuary. In June 2020, he received his Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Marine and Estuarine Science and a Graduate Award for Distinguished Achievement for his research. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, hiking, snowboarding, cycling, and mountain biking.

Ensign Gearty is humbled by the opportunity to be a NOAA Corps officer. Equally, he is excited for the opportunity to use both his maritime and research background to support NOAA’s scientific missions in education and exploration.

 

Ensign Sarah Rollings

Prior to joining the NOAA Corps Ensign Rollings was enlisted in the United States Navy as a sonar technician. She was stationed on the USS San Jacinto where in 2020 the crew completed 206 consecutive days at sea and never visited a port for the duration of their deployment. During this time, she earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for repairing critical fire control equipment for the sonar suite. She participated in a crossing the line ceremony and became an Iron Shellback.

Ensign Rollings received a bachelor's degree in Marine Science from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. She earned a Master’s of Research in Environmental Biology from the University of St. Andrews. Ensign Rollings is excited to continue serving her country as a NOAA Corps Officer pursuing her passion for science and conservation.

 

Ensign Sarah Cozart

Ensign Cozart graduated from Liberty University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and a Multi-Engine Commercial Pilot Certificate, as well as an A&P mechanic license. Always seeking to improve professionally and sharpen her skills as an aviator, she interned at Delta Air Lines during her junior year of college, joined a soaring club in Michigan to fly gliders, and earned her single-engine seaplane pilot certificate. Upon graduation, she worked as an aircraft mechanic on Cape Cod, where she first learned about the NOAA Corps. She was hired as a first officer for a regional airline in Montana and continued to build flight hours. After upgrading to captain, she worked as the chief pilot of the region and returned to school for a second bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Montana State University. She currently holds an FAA Multi-Engine Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and has over 3,100 flight hours. For Ensign Cozart, NOAA Corps was the perfect opportunity to combine her love of aviation and passion for the environment and she is excited for the opportunity to be a positive force in the world through her service.

 

Ensign Connor Healy

Ensign Healy graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Marine Ecology and Conservation. During his time at California Polytechnic, he worked as a research diver and fishery observer along the California and Mexico coastlines. This experience helped him to help better understand the complex and fascinating effects of Marine Protected Areas. After graduating, he spent a year working as a field technician conducting surveys on aquatic connectivity in Appalachia. He then returned to marine science as a diver for the Kelp Forest Monitoring Program at the Channel Islands National Park Service. This project inspired him to pursue his graduate degree in Fisheries Management at Oregon State University. His thesis was on examining novel approaches to altering management strategies of Marine Protected Areas to account for significant stress events.  

Ensign Healy is a NAUI Master SCUBA diver and avid free-diver. He strives to learn more about different marine environments and those who utilize its many resources. He is excited and motivated to serve in the NOAA Commissioned Corps.