Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, NOAA

Deputy Under Secretary for Operations of NOAA
Incumbent
Del Brockett
Acting 
since 22 December 2025
Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
AbbreviationDUSO
Reports toUnder Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator
AppointerNOAA Administrator
Formation19 August 1949 (19 August 1949)
First holderRear Admiral David Titley
Websitewww.noaa.gov/about-our-agency/leadership-and-senior-advisors

The office of Deputy Under Secretary for Operations (DUSO) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been in existence since 2012, but became an important role at NOAA with the appointment of Vice Admiral Michael S. Devany in 2014,[1] the first NOAA Corps officer to hold that rank since Henry A. Karo in 1942. The DUSO would also be the daily director of operations in charge of the National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Weather Service, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.[2]

In 2020, NOAA issued administrative order NAO 200-3B that outlines the position of DUSO.[3]

Deputy Under Secretary of Operations, NOAA

No. Portrait Name Took Office Left Office Ref.
1 June 2012 January 2013 [4][5]
2
David M. Kennedy
January 2013 December 2013 [6]
3 January 2014 April 2016 [6]
4
Benjamin Friedman
April 2016 June 2024 [7]
5
Vice Admiral
Nancy A. Hann
July 2024 December 2025[8] [9][10]
-
Del Brockett
Acting
December 2025 Present [11]
  1. ^ "Rear Adm. David A. Score to lead NOAA Corps and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  2. ^ "NOAA organization chart | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  3. ^ "NAO 200-3B: The NOAA Administrative Order Series | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  4. ^ "David Titley". Linkedin. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  5. ^ "Rear Admiral David W. Titley, USN (Ret)". The Center for Climate & Security. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  6. ^ a b "Vice Adm. Devany named NOAA Deputy Under Secretary | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  7. ^ Cusick, Daniel (2024-06-07). "NOAA leader who rooted out harassment to head daily operations". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  8. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Cyberflash - NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center". www.corpscpc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
  9. ^ "Nancy A. Hann to be promoted to vice admiral and named NOAA deputy under secretary | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  10. ^ "MOAA - Meet the 3-Star Leading NOAA Operations". www.moaa.org. 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  11. ^ "Del Brockett | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-22.