Anita L. Lopez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anita L. Lopez
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
Years of service	1991–2018
Rank	Rear admiral (lower half)
Commands held	Deputy Director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps Deputy Director for Operations, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations NOAAS Oscar Elton Sette
Awards	Department of Commerce Silver Medal NOAA Administrator's Award NOAA Corps Commendation Medal (3) NOAA Corps Achievement Medal (5)

Anita L. Lopez is a former officer who worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps). This is a special group of uniformed officers who work on scientific missions for the United States. She was a high-ranking officer, serving as the deputy director of the NOAA Corps. She also helped manage NOAA's ships and planes.

Before this, she was in charge of NOAA's Marine Operations Center–Atlantic. This center is located in Norfolk, Virginia. Anita Lopez retired from the NOAA Corps in 2018. Since then, she has been working at the University of Hawaii. She helps manage their research ships and also works to make science more welcoming for everyone.

Early Life and Education

Anita Lopez grew up in Pasadena, California. Her family has Yaqui roots. When she was young, she joined a program called Explorer Post. This program was at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a famous place where scientists build spacecraft. This experience made her interested in engineering.

She studied electronic engineering technology at DeVry University. She earned her degree in 1989. Later, in 1996, she also got a certificate in project management. This was from the University of Washington. Before joining NOAA, she worked in Japan and South Korea. She helped install equipment for making computer chips. In 1991, she joined the NOAA Corps as an ensign. This is a junior officer rank.

Career Highlights

Anita Lopez had a long and important career. She worked in many different areas. These included managing fisheries and doing ocean research. She also helped with daily operations and managed big projects.

Working at Sea

Lopez spent more than nine years at sea. She served on eight different NOAA ships. These ships include the Discoverer, David Starr Jordan, and Miller Freeman.

She was also the commanding officer of the ship NOAAS Oscar Elton Sette. While in charge of this ship, she made a very important decision. She safely moved 17 people from remote islands. This happened before Hurricane Neki hit the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument. Her quick thinking likely saved lives.

Leadership Roles on Land

When she was not at sea, Lopez held many important jobs on land. She worked at NOAA's main office. She also worked at different research centers. These included the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. She also worked at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory.

From 2011 to 2012, she was a special assistant to a high-ranking NOAA official. Then, from 2012 to 2014, she was in charge of the NOAA Marine Operations Center–Atlantic.

Leading the NOAA Fleet

In 2014, Anita Lopez was promoted. She became the Deputy Director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. She also became the Deputy Director for Operations of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). In these roles, she was responsible for a lot. She led and managed all of NOAA's ships and aircraft. She also managed 321 officers and almost 1,000 civilian staff. These people all worked for OMAO.

After NOAA: University of Hawaii

Since 2018, Anita Lopez has been working at the University of Hawaii. She is the Director of Research Vessel Operations. This means she is in charge of how the university's research ships are used and kept. She also helps plan for new ships and equipment. She makes sure everything follows safety rules. She also works to make sure all staff are well-trained and feel valued.

She is also the Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This role is at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). She works to make sure everyone feels welcome and has equal opportunities in ocean science. She is also active in the local community. She supports ocean safety and conservation through a non-profit group called Na Kama Kai.

Awards and Recognition

Anita Lopez has received many awards for her excellent service. Some of her notable awards include:

• Department of Commerce Silver Medal
• NOAA Administrator's Award
• NOAA Corps Commendation Medal (three times)
• NOAA Corps Achievement Medal (five times)
• NOAA Corps Director's Ribbon
• NOAA Unit Citation Award
• Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
• NOAA Corps Pacific Service Ribbon
• NOAA Corps International Service Ribbon

Images for kids

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  NOAA Deck Officer Badge

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  NOAA Command at Sea Badge