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Harley D. Nygren
RADM Harley D. Nygren.JPG
Birth name Harley Dean Nygren
Born December 12, 1924
Seattle, Washington
Died (aged 94)
Place of burial
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, East Hanover Township, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Naval Reserve (1942–1947)
Flag of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.svg United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps (1948–1965)
Environmental Science Services Administration flag.jpg Environmental Science Services Administration Corps (1965–1970)
NOAA Flag.svg NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (1970–1981)
Rank US-O8 insignia.svg Rear Admiral
Commands held USC&GS Surveyor (OSS 32)
NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
Battles/wars World War II
Cold War
Awards
  • Department of Commerce - Gold Valor Aw.png Department of Commerce Gold Medal (1975)
  • US Department of Commerce Bronze Medal ribbon.png Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
  • SAME-Karo Award Ribbon.png Karo Award (1961)
  • NOAA Unit Citation ribbon.png NOAA Unit Citation Award

Rear Admiral Harley Dean Nygren (December 12, 1924 – November 17, 2019) was an American military officer. He served in several important U.S. government organizations. These included the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps (ESSA Corps), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps). He was the very first Director of the NOAA Corps.

During his career, Nygren worked on many mapping projects on land and at sea. He traveled to places as far north as the Arctic and as far south as Antarctica. He also helped with important discussions that led to the creation of ESSA and later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Early Life and Military Service

Growing Up in Washington

Harley D. Nygren was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1924. He started working for the U.S. Government as a laborer. He worked in a United States Army warehouse.

Joining the Naval Reserve

When the United States entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Nygren joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942. He was only 17 years old. The Navy sent him to the University of Washington. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1945. After graduating, he became an ensign in the Naval Reserve.

In 1946, Nygren was a damage control officer on the destroyer USS Hughes (DD-410). This ship was being prepared to be a target for atomic bomb tests. These tests, called Operation Crossroads, happened at Bikini Atoll. After this, he returned to Seattle. He continued his studies at the University of Washington. In 1947, he earned another Bachelor of Science degree, this time in mechanical engineering.

Career in Science and Surveying

Working with the Coast and Geodetic Survey

Harley D. Nygren North Slope Alaska 1950
Nygren in Alaska North Slope in 1950, working with a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey team.
Harley D. Nygren
Nygren as a young officer on the survey ship USC&GS Pathfinder in 1953.

In September 1947, Nygren left the Naval Reserve. He began working for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey as a civilian officer. In 1948, he became an ensign in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps. He was assigned to the survey ship USC&GS Explorer (OSS 28). For six months, he surveyed the Aleutian Islands.

From 1949 to 1951, Nygren worked with the Coast and Geodetic Survey's Arctic Field Party. They surveyed the Alaska North Slope. This team created the first accurate maps of this area. As a lieutenant (junior grade), Nygren used this knowledge to guide United States Navy ships. He helped them travel safely along the Alaska North Slope.

In 1952, Nygren became the executive officer of the ship USC&GS Hodgson (CSS 26). They worked in Oregon and Puget Sound in Washington. In 1953, he moved to the ship USC&GS Pathfinder (OSS 30). He helped map areas in the Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, and Cook Inlet. By the end of 1953, he was Pathfinder's operations officer.

From 1954 to 1957, Nygren led a team that measured gravity around the world. In 1957, he returned to Pathfinder as operations officer. They worked in the Bering Sea and along the coast of Alaska. In 1960, he studied oceanography at the University of Washington. He even took a research trip to the Arctic Ocean. After that, he served on the ship USC&GS Pioneer (OSS 31). This ship discovered many seamounts (underwater mountains) in the North Pacific.

In 1962, Nygren was sent to Antarctica. He worked with British research ships. He visited many bases and islands there. He then returned to the U.S. and worked on the Coast and Geodetic Survey's planning staff. He helped create a new government science organization called the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).

Leading the ESSA Corps

NOAA Ship Surveyor (1960)
The survey ship USC&GS Surveyor in the Bering Sea. Nygren commanded this ship in 1968.

On July 13, 1965, ESSA was formed. The Coast and Geodetic Survey became part of ESSA. Its officers became part of the new Environmental Science Services Administration Corps (ESSA Corps). Nygren became an officer in this new corps. He also became a Deputy Director in ESSA.

In August 1966, Nygren chose to take a lower rank so he could go back to sea. He became the executive officer of the ship USC&GS Surveyor (OSS 32). They worked in the North Pacific, Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands. In 1968, Nygren became the commanding officer of Surveyor. Under his command, the ship did important geophysical surveys. These surveys helped scientists understand the continental shelf. He was promoted to captain while commanding Surveyor.

In October 1968, Nygren became a rear admiral. He helped plan the creation of the new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

First Director of the NOAA Corps

On October 3, 1970, NOAA was created. The ESSA Corps became the new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps). Nygren became a NOAA Corps officer. On October 27, 1970, he became the Acting Director of the NOAA Corps. In February 1971, President Richard Nixon officially appointed him. This made him the first Director of the NOAA Corps.

As NOAA Corps director, Nygren worked on many projects. He helped with efforts to extend the shipping season on the Great Lakes. He also worked on issues related to U.S. control of the continental shelf. He was involved in discussions about oil spills and oceanography. His duties took him to Alaska, Antarctica, and international meetings in Monaco and Switzerland.

In 1972, under Nygren's leadership, the NOAA Corps made history. It became the first of the seven uniformed services of the United States to recruit women on the same basis as men. He also expanded the NOAA Corps training program. He arranged for it to be held at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

After more than ten years as NOAA Corps director, Nygren retired on January 1, 1981.

Life After Service

Harley D. Nygren retired
Nygren in retirement, with a photo he took in Alaska in 1950.

Nygren was a talented photographer throughout his career. Many of his photographs are part of the NOAA Photo Library. He was also a member of the Marine Technology Society.

Awards and Recognition

Nygren received several important awards for his service:

  • Department of Commerce - Gold Valor Aw.png Department of Commerce Gold Medal, 1975
  • US Department of Commerce Bronze Medal ribbon.png Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
  • SAME-Karo Award Ribbon.png Karo Award, 1961
  • NOAA Unit Citation ribbon.png NOAA Unit Citation Award

In 1975, Nygren received the Department of Commerce Gold Medal. He also received the Society of American Military Engineers Karo Award in 1961. Other honors included the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal and a NOAA Unit Citation Award. He also received commendations from the United States Navy and the United States Air Force.

Death and Legacy

Nygren passed away on November 17, 2019, at the age of 94. He was buried on December 6, 2019, at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in East Hanover Township, Pennsylvania.

Two places are named after Harley D. Nygren:

  • Mount Nygren is a mountain on Kyiv Peninsula in Antarctica. It is located at 65°9′S 63°48′W / 65.150°S 63.800°W / -65.150; -63.800 ("Mount Nygren").
  • Nygren Canyon is an underwater canyon in the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 150 miles off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, at 40°39′N 66°30′W / 40.650°N 66.500°W / 40.650; -66.500 ("Nygren Canyon").
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