Rear Admiral (select) Christiaan van Westendorp to serve as the next Coast Survey Director

Rear Admiral (select) Christiaan van Westendorp. Credit: NOAA

NOAA is pleased to announce the Presidential appointment of Rear Admiral (select) Christiaan van Westendorp to serve as the next Director of the Office of Coast Survey.

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 U.S. waters, the flow of goods through U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricane Maria.

Rear Admiral (select) van Westendorp, center, is briefed aboard NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson with Anthony Klemm (left) and, Capt. Alex Cruz (right), South Coast pilot and vice chairman, South Coast Harbor Safety & Security Committee, about the response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Credit: NOAA

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.

Rear Admiral (select) van Westendorp speaks with the NOAA Corps Basic Officer Training Class 145 in 2025. Credit: NOAA