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Eaves Takes Command of Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center
U.S. Navy photo by Javier Chagoya

Eaves Takes Command of Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center

By Javier Chagoya

Capt. Jennifer K. Eaves steps into the position of commanding officer of Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), following the change of command ceremony at FNMOC’s Sparks Plaza, Aug. 17.

Eaves is a native of nearby Cupertino, Calif. She is a qualified Information Warfare Officer and formerly served as Director, Intelligence and Cryptology, U.S. Third Fleet. She becomes FNMOC’s second commanding officer from the Navy’s intelligence community.
 
“My appreciation of the power and the elegance and the warfighting contributions of the Navy meteorology and oceanography community began a number of years ago when I started some collaborative efforts with one of Fleet Numerical’s counterparts, NAVOCEANO [Naval Oceanographic Office] at Stennis, Mississippi, and that appreciation has only grown over the ensuing years,” said Eaves.

Eaves takes the helm from Capt. Russell Smith III, who has steered the weather forecasting facility since August 2015. Both Eaves and Smith have come to the job with long careers in naval intelligence, and represent a new era in information warfare.

FNMOC provides support with high-performance computing at all levels of classification, modeling the global atmosphere to DOD information assurance standards, and provides climatological support to naval operations and executes submarine weather support.

Eaves was familiar with FNMOC’s reputation before the command opportunity arose, and when asked to compete for the position at FNMOC, she did not hesitate to apply.

The ceremony’s guest speaker Congressman Jimmy Panetta, a former naval intelligence officer himself, talked about how all of Monterey’s military installations – from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center to Camp Roberts, NPS to FNMOC – are all considered crown jewels among his colleagues back in Washington.
 
“Captain Eaves, you are part of a strong team here in Monterey, a team I look forward to working with not only here but in my role in Washington, D.C. on the federal level,” Panetta said. “And now, as a brand new member of the Armed Services Committee, I look forward to touting Team Monterey and of course Fleet Numerical under your leadership.”

Former FNMOC commanding officer and NPS alumnus, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, and Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy, Rear Adm. John Okon, served as the presiding officer for the ceremony, offering high praise for the incoming commander.

“Captain Jennifer Eaves is cut from the finest cloth our nation has. She is a diverse and adaptive warfighter,” he said. “You are now number 22 in the long history of Fleet Numerical, and I can’t stress this enough – enjoy every moment of your command.”

Okon also took the opportunity to applaud the outgoing CO, announcing the completion of a major effort to consolidate Navy modeling efforts under Smith’s leadership.

“I want to tell you, team FNMOC, that all of the Navy’s atmospheric and oceanographic models will be run right here in Monterey,” said Okon proudly. “This sprint to consolidation of resources, talent and treasure is another significant advancement for the current and future operations of our fleet and joint operations ... Russ, we couldn’t have done it without you, and I know this effort provides a bright future for FNMOC for many years to come.”

As part of naval tradition and heritage, Eaves proceeded to the ceremonial public reading of her official orders. She will serve as FNMOC commanding officer for two years.
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