Class Biographies
(click on the image for a larger picture)
 Bohaboy,
Erich
Ensign Bohaboy was raised in Grafton, Massachusettes. He moved to Las
Vegas, Nevada to attend the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, from which
he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After graduation,
he spent several years working as a Production Manager for a small Las
Vegas manufacturing company, and later worked as a Quality Control Laboratory
Technician for a nutraceutical manufacturer. He joined the NOAA Corps
in order to broaden his range of professional and personal experience;
and, after completing BOTC and his first sea assignment, he hopes to be
accepted into the NOAA Corps flight training program.
 Daniel,
Amy
Ensign Daniel is the daughter of a retired naval officer and is accustomed
to traveling and uniform service. She graduated from the University of
California, San Diego in June 1999 with a BS in Biology. Since then she
has worked at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps,
and Anthony's Fish Grotto. She has always loved marine biology and wanted
to work in the field. She is excited to be a part of the NOAA Corps and
in helping NOAA achieve its missions. She hopes to be stationed on a fisheries
or oceanography ship on her first sea tour and looks forward to working
with the different departments in NOAA.
 Davis,
Natasha
Ensign Davis earned a BS in Geography and Environmental Systems from
the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). During college, she
spent her summers and winters working for the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR), Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS). The MBSS is
a statewide survey assessing the the biology (via electrofishing), chemistry,
and habitat of Maryland's 'wadeable' freshwater streams. She has spent
the last year working full-time with the Water Resources Division of the
MDNR assessing migratory fish passage in the Lower Patapsco River and
its tributaries. What does a girl obsessed with water do for fun? Hiking,
climbing, biking, camping, running, and fishing all rank high on her list,
but crew is her true love. Though Ensign Davis enjoyed her time playing
with the fishes of Maryland, the NOAA Corps seemed like an opportunity
too good to miss. She is hoping that her enthusiasm for science, travel,
and anything to do with the water, will serve her well as a NOAA Corps
Officer.
 Didier,
Patrick
Ensign Didier has lived most of his life either on or near the ocean.
Between the ages of 7 and 12, he lived on a 44 ft sailboat, along with
a 3 week sail to Hawaii at age ten. He received a BS in Ecology and Systematic
Biology from California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo, where he spent two
months at sea in conjunction with the California Maritime Academy. His
professional interests include entomology and biogeographic mapping. In
his spare time, Ensign Didier plays racquetball, disc golf, and coaches
Little League. He looks forward to the opportunity to apply a science
background to serving his country.
 Edmundson,
Richard
Ensign Edmundson joins the 103rd BOTC from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He graduated from the University of Colorado in 2001 with a BS In Applied
Mathematics. For the last nine years, he has been enlisted in the U.S.
Air Force. Before joining NOAA Commissioned Corps, Ensign Edmundson performed
command and control operations on the GPS satellite constellation. He
discovered the Corps while searching the NOAA website. Ensign Edmundson
enjoys racquetball, hiking, and running. He hopes to finish his military
career within NOAA.
 Kurelja,
Lindsay
Ensign Kurelja graduated in December from Texas A&M University at
Galveston with a BS In Marine Biology and an unlimited tonnage third mates
license. While in school she was a active member of the Corps of Cadets
serving many positions including Company Commander Hailing from the heart
of the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colorado, she has always loved the
excitement of travel and felt the lure of the ocean making the NOAA corps
a perfect fit. With what ever free time she may come across, she likes
to snowboard, read, make jewelry, practice yoga, and enjoy the company
of good friends, family and her always loyal mutt, Tandia. Hopefully a
successful career with NOAA will lead her to the ultimate goal of being
Dr. Captain Kurelja.
 Lomnicky,
John (Jay)
Ensign Lomnicky received a BS in Biology from Towson University. Jay
relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, to work for the Florida Marine Research
Institute. It was while working for the Fisheries Independent Monitoring
Program that he first heard about the NOAA Corps In his spare time he
enjoys scuba diving, spear-fishing, fishing, and hiking with his wife
and dogs.
Pixton, Lundy
Ensign Pixton is from Odessa, Florida. She graduated with Honors from
Florida Institute of Technology with dual degrees in Marine Biology and
Ecology in May of 2002. Ensign Pixton was a member of the Florida Tech
women's varsity volleyball team for four years. As a senior she was selected
to the Daktronics All South Region First Team as a defensive specialist.
She joined NOAA Corps for the opportunity to work outdoors and gain valuable
experience through the responsibilities of a NOAA Corps officer. She looks
forward to her first sea tour and a rewarding career with NOAA.
 Ringel,
Matthew
Ensign Ringel was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated
with a BA in Physics from Kalamazoo College where he discovered his yearning
for travel when he took advantage of an opportunity to study in Budapest,
Hungary. He then heeded the call to go west and discovered a love of biking
while in Colorado. He joined the NOAA Corps for the opportunity to contribute
to science while traveling around the Earth. He will miss the mountains,
his bike and the potluck ninjas.
 Seaman,
Andrew
Ensign Seaman grew up in the metro Milwaukee area on the shores of Lake
Michigan. He attended college at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin,
on the shores of Lake Superior and received a BS In Meteorology. After
graduation in May 2002, he fulfilled his childhood dream—he received
a job in Dubuque, IA at KFXB-TV as Chief Meteorologist. However, combined
with finding out broadcasting was not all it was cracked up to be, and
the draw of the water being too strong, he accepted a commission with
the NOAA Corps for the uniqueness, adventure, and most of all, the challenge
of the job.
 Spence,
Luke
Ensign Spence recently graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with
a BS In Chemistry. He is looking forward to his first sea tour and he
hopes to gain some material for his first book.
 Stroud,
Kelley
Ensign Stroud was born and raised in Ruidoso, New Mexico. She graduated
Cum Laude with a BS In Marine Fisheries from Texas A&M University
at Galveston. While in college, she worked in the Molecular Ecology and
Fisheries Genetics lab where she did research in swordfish genetics and
larval distributions of various tunas and billfish. She also spent a summer
working aboard the USTS Texas Clipper II. Ensign Stroud joined the NOAA
Corps with hopes to gain exposure to fisheries research and management
as well as becoming an experienced mariner. She is looking forward to
a rewarding and successful career in the NOAA Corps.
 Watson,
Misty Michelle
Ensign Watson is from Meridian, Mississippi. She graduated Cum Laude
from Xavier University of Louisiana and received a BS in Physics with
a minor in Mathematics in May 2002. While attending the University, she
conducted research in Astrophysics at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory (LIGO) in Livingston, LA and also at Auburn University. Ensign
Watson first heard of NOAA while attending a career fair. She is very
interested in expanding her horizon in the sciences as well as traveling
and serving her country. Ensign Watson is looking forward to a challenging
and rewarding career in the NOAA Corps.
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