NOAA Appoints MITAGS as Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador?

Glen Paine, Executive Director of MITAGS-PMI, announced that MITAGS has been appointed an Ambassador of the Weather-Ready Nation™ (WRN) program, a NOAA initiative designed to increase the nation’s awareness of and readiness for extreme weather, water and climate events.

“Being an ambassador for NOAA will enhance two-way communication between our organizations and help promote greater preparedness for and resilience to extreme events,” Paine commented. “In fact, MITAGS will be implementing a new Ocean Routing Course for deck officers so they can learn in greater detail the specific extremes encountered in different oceans. Given our proximity to NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) in nearby College Park, attendees will visit OPC during this course so they can better understand how their accurate and timely observations while at sea can assist OPC forecasters.”

As a newly appointed WRN Ambassador, MITAGS will be recognized as an organization that shares NOAA’s commitment to protecting communities, businesses and individuals from devastating weather events.

Eric Friend, Director of Training for MITAGS-PMI, has been designated the required point of contact for the program. “Becoming a WRN Ambassador does not imply NOAA’s endorsement of any third-party products or services,” he noted, “but it does fit naturally with our mission of enhancing the professionalism of mariners and having internationally recognized training programs in safety for the maritime industry. NOAA’s mission is to help save lives and property by providing critical environmental intelligence and strengthening partnerships across all levels of government, business and academia, and we wholeheartedly support that mission.”

MITAGS-PMI is a nonprofit vocational training center for individuals seeking to enter the maritime profession and for professional mariners seeking to advance their careers. With campuses in Baltimore and Seattle, it is the leader in maritime training, pilot programs, ship simulation and operational research, providing customized solutions for both individual companies and members of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. To learn more, visit www.mitags-pmi.org.

MITAGS and PMI are the primary training centers of the I.O.M.M.&P.