KELLI-ANN
BLISS `04
took a leap
And it paid off...
Kelli-Ann Bliss `04 became a lab director
Additionally, Bliss often gives tours to people
of a small, high purity laboratory on Cape
interested in their science projects. During the
Cod for her first six years after graduation
summer, tours include "DVs" (distinguished
from MMA. Several MMA alumni friends who
visitors) who fly in for the day. She said, "Just
already worked at the National Oceanographic
before the station closed, I gave a tour to a
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
former astronaut who had been in space five
convinced her to apply for one of the open
times. I also gave a three-star Air Force general
positions at NOAA. Bliss admits that she was
a tour. During the winter (March through
hesitant to "step off into the unknown" but
September), I still give tours but for fellow
once she had been accepted into the NOAA
"winter-overs," only because it's too cold to get
Corps three years ago, she knew she had made
planes in and out until late October or early
the right decision. She remarked, "I have met
November."
some amazing people, gotten some amazing
Bliss is also a member of the Emergency
opportunities, and learned so much."
Response Lead for Team 4, the trauma team.
Her official title is Station Chief of the
She works with the doctor and the physician's
Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO) for
assistant to establish training and drills for the
NOAA's Global Monitoring Division and LTjg
rest of the team. In the case of a real emergency,
in the NOAA Corps of officers. She is spending
she would report to the scene and coordinate
a year as Station Chief at the Amundsen-Scott
the response of her team for victims.
South Pole Station and everyday "walks right
Although she hasn't any definite plans for
past the geographic South Pole several times"
the future yet, Bliss is "toying with the idea of
on her trek about a third of a mile from the
going back to school for a master's degree." She
main station to the clean air sector where she
is also working on getting her 1600-ton mate's
takes regular instrument readings. Principally,
license. Other than those ideas, she is enjoying
Bliss' responsibilities are to "keep the scientific
where NOAA is taking her and is looking for
instruments running and transfer data to the
her next billet ­ maybe the operations officer
main lab in Boulder, CO. This includes flask
on a NOAA ship or a Flag LT for the NOAA
sampling, checking on in-situ instruments, as
Administrator. "Who knows, though?! That's
well as manual data collection." She discloses,
one of the exciting things about being with
"One of our instruments was developed in the
NOAA ­ there is always something new to
40's but is so accurate that NASA uses it to
learn and look forward to doing," she exclaims.
ground truth its satellites for ozone!"
30 MARINER 2013 - Issue 2

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