Rear Admiral Evelyn J. Fields
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Posted By: Candace K on October 25, 2005 FEATURED Content Rear Admiral Evelyn J. Fields Former Director, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations and Director, NOAA Corps Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Evelyn J. Fields was the Director of NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations and Director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Her appointment was approved by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate on May 6, 1999. Admiral Fields is the first woman and the first African American to serve in this position. Armed with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, Adm. Fields graduated from Norfolk State College (now Norfolk State University) in 1971. Her career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began in 1972 as a cartographer at NOAA's Atlantic Marine Center in Norfolk, Virginia. She was commissioned as an ensign and served on board the NOAA Ship Mt. MITCHELL as junior officer. Her later ship tours included the NOAA Ship PEIRCE as Operations Officer, NOAA Ship RAINIER as Executive Officer, and the NOAA Ship McARTHUR as Commanding Officer. Admiral Fields was the first female to serve as commanding officer of a NOAA ship and a U.S. government oceangoing vessel. Following Admiral Fields' command at sea tour, she was selected as a fellow to the U.S. Department of Commerce Science and Technology Fellowship Program. Her follow-on land assignments included tours as the Administrative Officer of NOAA's National Geodetic Survey and Chief of Coast Survey's Hydrographic Surveys Division, followed by her tenure as Director of the NOAA Corps' Commissioned Personnel Center. Prior to her confirmation as Director of the NOAA Corps, she served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA's National Ocean Service. During her career, RADM Fields has received a variety of commendations for performance of duty, unit awards, and letters of appreciation for participation in career day programs, EEO programs, mentor programs, federal women programs, and women and minorities recruiting. RADM Fields was named one of the top 50 minority women in science and engineering for 1996 by the National Technical Association. In 1999 she received the Ralph M. Metcalfe Health, Education and Science Award from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and was selected as Woman of the Year by the Maryland Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. In 2000 the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Fields a Gold Medal, its highest honor, for leadership; the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia passed a Senate Joint Memorial Resolution in honor of her contributions to the Norfolk community; the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority named her an honorary member at its 80th National Leadership Conference; and the Explorers Club in New York honored her with the Lowell Thomas Explorer Award for outstanding achievement in ocean exploration. In 2001 she received the "Strong Men and Women; Excellence in Leadership" award from Dominion Virginia Power in Richmond, Va. Fields is a member of several professional societies and has served in various offices in those organizations. Fields currently lives in Gaithersburg, Md. She is a native of Norfolk, Va., where her mother, Jerlean Fields, still resides. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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