Rear Adm. Evelyn J. Fields has earned the distinction of being the first African American and the first woman to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps, a uniformed service of 400 scientists and engineers who operate ships and aircraft that are used to study the weather and oceanic life.
At Fields’ induction ceremony yesterday, Commerce Secretary William Daley said, “I am proud to have such a visionary and outstanding officer….lead the NOAA Corps.”
Two of the NOAA Corps’ ships were used in the search for John F. Kennedy Jr.’s missing airplane. Its hydrographic survey ship, Rude, was credited with locating the aircraft wreckage.
