GULFPORT, Mississippi - Ocean Springs native Amber Spiers is part of Naval Oceanography, helping to ensure the U.S. Navy maintains freedom from the ocean floor to the stars at Naval Oceanographic Office.
Sailors and civilians working throughout Naval Oceanography collect, measure, and analyze the elements of the physical environment (land, sea, air, space). They synthesize a vast array of oceanographic and meteorological data to produce forecasts and warnings in support of safety of flight and navigation.
Spiers graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 2006 and currently serves as a financial technician at Naval Oceanographic Office, headquartered at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.
“Naval Oceanography operates simultaneously at the strategic, operational and tactical levels of warfare in every theater around the globe,” said Rear Adm. Ron Piret, commanding officer, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. “We pride ourselves in our ability to characterize the battle space and then predict changes in the environment over time. Every ship that sails, every aircraft that takes flight, every submarine that dives beneath the surface of the ocean has to go to sea with the information that Naval Oceanography provides.”
According to Spiers, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Ocean Springs.
“I want to thank my whole family,” said Spiers. “I have a loving and supportive family, so I’m grateful for that. My dad’s work ethic has really molded my work ethic. Everything he does, he does to the best of his ability. I’ve always watched and admired how he always does things the right way. Now that I’m grown in the workforce, I do the same thing and try to apply the same dedication.”
Naval Oceanography personnel demonstrate expertise in Hydrography, Geospatial Information and Services (GIS), datum issues, and Tactical Decision Aids (TDA). They combine knowledge of the operating environment with a thorough understanding of warfighting capabilities to assess and predict environmental impacts to friendly and enemy platforms, sensors and weapon systems.
Serving in the Navy means Spiers is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The ocean is very large,” said Spiers. “We have more ocean than we have land, so the Navy is important to protect our nation as well as international trade.”
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize the importance of accelerating America’s advantage at sea.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy -- forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power -- deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships, and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans.
“As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
Spiers and the sailors and the civilians they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I was civilian of the quarter in 2021,” said Spiers. “That felt very good to be recognized for the service I provide.”
As Spiers continues to train and perform missions, she takes pride in keeping fellow sailors and civilians safe and serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
“When I first joined the Navy as a civilian, it was for financial reasons,” added Spiers. “Now that I’m working here I have a lot of satisfaction knowing that my job matters. It’s important to support the people who support our mission.”
Naval Oceanography directs and oversees more than 2,500 globally-distributed military and civilian personnel who collect, process and exploit environmental information to assist Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to make better decisions, based on assured environmental information, faster than the adversary.
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