Michael S. Devany
Michael S. Devany is a former vice admiral in the NOAA [Commissioned Officer Corps] who last served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Operations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from January 2, 2014 to April 2016. He previously served as director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps from August 13, 2012 to January 1, 2014, succeeding RADM Jonathan W. Bailey. As deputy under secretary for operations, he was NOAA’s chief operating officer. VADM Devany was responsible for the day-to-day management of NOAA’s national and international operations for oceanic and atmospheric services, research, and coastal and marine stewardship. He is a key advisor to the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere/NOAA administrator on NOAA program and policy issues. Devany was the first NOAA Corps officer to achieve the rank of vice admiral since VADM Henry A. Karo in 1965, and the second NOAA Corps officer overall. Devany retired from NOAA in April 2016 after over 30 years of combined uniformed service.
Career
Devany was an officer in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. He graduated from the NOAA Leadership Competencies Development Program and the Harvard University Senior Managers in Government program.As Director, MAOC, RDML Devany was responsible for the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the NOAA ship and aircraft fleet. He oversaw NOAA’s multi-purpose oceanographic, fisheries, and hydrographic survey vessels and aircraft that operate across the globe in support of the program requirements of NOAA.
Devany received his commission in the United States Navy via the Navy ROTC in 1986. While in the Navy, he served as a surface warfare officer aboard the destroyer in the Pacific and the Persian Gulf. He became an officer of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps in January 1990, when he transferred uniformed services. Devany received a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in biology, and a master's degree from the University of South Florida in environmental health. He was promoted to lieutenant in April 1994, commander |lieutenant commander] in September 1999, commander in September 2004, and captain in May 2008.
Devany served aboard six NOAA ships:,,, and in various capacities and as commanding officer of and. These vessels were involved in fisheries science and oceanographic research operations in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico. Ashore, heserved in a variety of staff, scientific, and management positions in the NOAA line offices National Marine Fisheries Service, Oceans and Atmospheric Research, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, and National Ocean Service. He has spent a majority of his career working in assignments that directly interfaced with state and other federal agencies, using his project management and consensus building skills to achieve program objectives. VADM Devany has spent the last several years in senior Fleet operational positions, most recently as Commanding Officer, Marine Operations Center – Atlantic. He was promoted to rear admiral in June 2011 and appointed Director, Marine and Aviation Operations Centers, the operational arm of NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. He was promoted to rear admiral in February 2012 and assumed command of the NOAA Commissioned Corps in August 2012. He was promoted to vice admiral on 2 January 2014 upon assuming duty as deputy undersecretary for operations, only the second officer to reach this rank in the combined history of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and its predecessors, and the first since H. Arnold Karo in 1965.
Devany received multiple NOAA Corps Achievement Medals and the NOAA Corps Commendation Medal. Additionally, while serving in the U.S. Navy he received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in the Persian Gulf. He was a NOAA diver, and holds a United States Coast Guard 1,600-gross-ton Master, Oceans license.
Personal life
VADM Devany is from the State of Washington, and he and his wife Tracy Bishop resided in Virginia with their three boys: Brendan, Kieran and Colin when he served as the deputy under secretary for operations at the NOAA. Currently, he and his wife run outside Twisp, Washington.NOAA Corps dates of rank
Awards and decorations
Navy Surface Warfare Officer badgeNOAA Deck Officer
NOAA Diver insignia
NOAA Small Craft Command Badge