# Nancy Hann

Nancy A. Hann (born 1973) is a vice admiral in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Hann is the deputy under secretary for operations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Currently, she is acting as under secretary and administrator of NOAA. She previously served as the director of the NOAA Corps and director of the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). Prior to that, Hann was the NOAA Corps and OMAO's deputy director. Hann is the first woman to achieve the rank of vice admiral in the history of the NOAA Corps and its predecessors.

## Early life

Nancy Hann grew up in Illinois, as a child she recalled one of her favorite things was to watch the thunderstorms. She's always been interested in Earth's weather and her mother claimed she had been interested in weather patterns since the beginning.

## Career

Hann started her career with NOAA as a fisheries observer in 1996 and she commissioned as an officer in the NOAA Corps 1999. She served on commercial fishing vessels, various NOAA ships and aircraft and NSF research vessels, on the NOAA aircraft she was a co-pilot, not achieving aircraft commander, and flight meteorologist. She served in multiple administrative roles, which would now not be possible given the new NOAA Corps career requirements, not achieving leadership roles in a ship or aircraft. She is responsible for the direct leadership and management of OMAO's operational assets, including the agency's fleet of 16 research and survey vessels and nine aircraft.
Prior Assignments:
* Commanding officer of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center
* Office of Marine and Aviation Operations Chief of Staff.
* Executive Officer at the NOAA Marine Operations Center-Atlantic
* Associate Director at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
* NOAA liaison to the U.S. Pacific Command.
In July 2021, RDML Hann was nominated for promotion to rear admiral (two-stars) and assignment as the new director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, succeeding retired Rear Admiral Michael J. Silah. She was confirmed on 16 November 2021.
In June 2024, RADM Hann was appointed for promotion to vice admiral and appointment as NOAA's deputy under secretary for operations. She assumed office and rank, effective 15 July 2024.
On January 20, 2025, Hann became Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere as well as NOAA Administrator.
On February 27, 2025, Hann directed the mass firing of probationary employees across NOAA.

## Education

* A.S. in Project Management at George Washington University
* B.A. in Marine Science and Biology at the University of San Diego
* M.S. in Space Studies and Remote Sensing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
* M.P.A at the Harvard University Kennedy School

## Awards

* NOAA Aviator insignia
* Department of Commerce Gold Medal with "O" device
* Department of Commerce Silver Medal with "O" device
* Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
* NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal
* NOAA Administrator's Award
* NOAA Corps Commendation Medal with two 5⁄16 inch gold stars
* NOAA Corps Achievement Medal with three 5⁄16" gold stars
* NOAA Corps Director's Ribbon with two 5⁄16" gold stars
* NOAA Unit Citation Award with 3⁄16" bronze star
* NOAA Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
* NOAA Corps Pacific Service Ribbon
* NOAA Corps Mobile Duty Service Ribbon
* NOAA National Response Service Ribbon