Lt. Taylor Krabiel, Program Manager/Technical Mapping Support Lead

Tell us about yourself and your work at NOS.

My name is Lieutenant Taylor Krabiel, and I am the technical mapping support program manager for the NOAA Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, situated in the Office of Coast Survey. Coast Survey produces the nautical charts that keep maritime trade, transportation, and all those sailing in U.S. waters safe. In my role, I assist in training the hydrographic workforce and testing complex mapping systems across NOAA’s ships to ensure our equipment is calibrated and ready for action during the survey season. My career has been focused on hydrography, and as an officer in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, or NOAA Corps, I split my time between science and maritime operations, participating in both ocean mapping efforts and driving ships.

How did you get to where you are now in your career?

I’ve always been passionate about exploring the natural world, which led me to earn my bachelor’s degree in geology and hydrography from the University of Nevada, Reno. In 2017, I joined the NOAA Corps to combine my love for exploration with my desire to serve. My hydrography journey began aboard the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, where I learned the fundamentals of ocean mapping and sailing. Following that, I was a hydrographic field liaison, where I strengthened my technical expertise, testing equipment across the fleet to ensure it was survey-ready and teaching within our hydrography school.

I then served as the operations officer aboard the NOAA Ship Fairweather, leading survey missions in Alaska. Along the way, I also earned a master’s degree in geographic information systems and received my Category B Standards of Competence for Nautical Cartographers certification from the International Hydrographic Organization — a global requirement for producing and maintaining accurate nautical charts and marine geospatial data. Through every ship and field project, I gained practical, hands-on experience that prepared me for my current role.

What NOAA project have you enjoyed working on the most?

I’ve had some incredible experiences, from my first sea tour conducting hurricane response work aboard the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson in Puerto Rico to discovering an underwater volcano-like feature in the Arctic aboard the Coast Guard icebreaker Healy. My favorite project to date was mapping uncharted waters near Alaska’s St. George Island aboard the NOAA Ship Fairweather. Located in the Bering Sea, St. George is very remote, and the local communities rely heavily on the surrounding waters for their livelihoods, making accurate nautical charts critical for safe navigation. Prior to our efforts, the last major survey of the area was performed in the 1950s, leaving much of St. George’s shoreline uncharted. Our surveys of the island provided modern data that updated previously blank charts, which felt like true exploration. As we drove our small survey boats, I watched the live sonar data appear on my screen and realized I was the very first person to see that seafloor!

When did you know you wanted to pursue your current career?

I can remember the exact day I discovered the career path I wanted to pursue. I was reading a book about the history and philosophy of measurements with my favorite episode of “Star Trek” playing in the background. The author discussed the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and the origins of hydrography in the United States. I immediately put the book down to look it up, which led me to learn about the NOAA Corps and Coast Survey. As I was searching online, I heard the “Star Trek” crew talking about "surveying the system," and it suddenly hit me: this is exactly what I want to do! I want to explore, survey the ocean, drive ships, serve my country, and conduct science. I realized that the NOAA Corps and Coast Survey offered a real-life version of “Star Trek,” and I have been hooked ever since!

What would you recommend to those who want to begin a career in your field?

Find a project that interests you and take steps toward making it a reality! Nothing in science or engineering is out of your reach. Pick a topic, research it from its historical roots to modern methods, and explore. You do not need expensive equipment to get started; gather affordable materials, find open-source software, and see how far you can go. The skills you gain from those projects are what will get you into your dream career. At least that is what I did!