b'NOAA Celebrating Golden AnniversaryThroughout 2020Homeported in San Diego, California, NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker is the fifth in a series of Oscar Dyson-class fisheries survey vessels and one of the most technologically advanced fisheries vessels in the world. The ships primary objective is to support fish, marine mammal, seabird and turtle surveys off the U.S. West Coast and in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Photo: Paul Hillman / NOAANOAA is kicking off a year-longAlthough NOAA was formally established decades ago, its roots originated a century earlier with the Survey of celebration to mark its upcomingthe Coast in 1807 and the Weather Bureau and U.S. Fish Commission in the 1870s. 50th anniversary.Our nations oldest science agencies came together, as Since its inception on October 3, 1970, NOAA hasone, with a vision to protect and enrich life by better under-become one of the worlds premier science agencies standing our ocean and atmosphere, said Cheryl Oliver, that protects life and property, leads stewardship of thedirector of the NOAA Heritage program, which honorsocean and Great Lakes, and drives the blue economyathe legacy of NOAA through special events and exhibits mission that spans from the surface of the sun to the flooracross the country. Today, people depend on NOAAof the ocean. science and services every day, in our homes, on the coasts Over the past five decades, NOAA has grown into awe love, in our daily commerce, in the seafood we eat and in premier science agency essential to our Nation, said Neilour personal safety.Jacobs, acting NOAA administrator. We are proud of thatDay in and day out, NOAA serves the nation in many legacy and of the people who champion it every day.ways including:Our skilled and diverse workforce and partnerships makeLeading in environmental science and technology,NOAA a strong and unique agency, and they have set thehelping the world adapt to our changing planet.stage for continued innovation and discovery for decades NOAA is innovating, pushing forward withto come.new research, cutting-edge technologies an 28 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine Thank You For Your Service'