Welcome to NOPF Whidbey Island
Navy FOIA | Privacy Policy
1987 - Present
1280 W. Intruder Street
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
comm (360) 257-0212 or DSN 820-0212
ABOUT NOPF
Home • Local Area • Maps & Driving •Local Weather
The mission of NOPF is to provide timely and accurate acoustic cueing to operating and supporting forces, and conduct continuous maritime surveillance for Homeland Security.
NOPF is divided into two major divisions that operate in the same facility- The shore side and the sea side (Sea Component West). The sea side consists of STG's that rotate out to the five SURTASS ships that operate under NOPF. The shore side has various rates that all support the operations watch floor in completing it's mission. The command's shore side UIC is 68844 and the sea side is 48594.
NOPF has approximately 325 enlisted personnel, 25 officers, a detachment of 30 Canadian forces personnel and 15 civilians.
This is an excellent duty station which is located right off the water and near a beautiful cliff-side park. The parking is readily available and the building is the nicest on base.
For more information about the command, please use the Contact Us link on the right, or email the Command Master Chief or the Public Affairs Officer. They will be happy to answer your questions.
For more information on the area, click the Local Area link at the top of the page. For driving information and maps, click the Maps & Driving link at the top of the page.
LOCAL AREA
Home •About Us • Maps & Driving •Local Weather
NOPF is located on beautiful Whidbey Island in the Northwest corner of Washington State. Situated 65 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Canada; and connected to the mainland only by the Deception Pass bridge, this is a once-in-a-lifetime duty station! As shown in the picture below, ferry service is also available to and from the island.
The weather on the island is typically mild with winters in the mid to upper 30's and Summers in the mid to high 70's. The area receives far less rainfall than the Seattle area due to the proximity of the Olympic mountains to the immediate Northwest.
WELCOME ABOARD
From the Command Master Chief
Congratulations on your orders to Naval Ocean Processing Facility (NOPF), Whidbey Island, let me be the first to welcome you to our Team. You will find NOPF is a very positive, pro-active and highly professional Command. Our goal is a simple one: To make our Sailors successful by ensuring they have the tools necessary not only to succeed but also to excel.
NOPF’s mission is to provide initial alerting and reporting of ocean-borne acoustics, and environmental data, as well as tactical, communication, and training support to our fleet battle groups and civilian agencies. You will find our mission is vital, diverse and demanding. Whether directing our SURTASS ships for optimum employment or monitoring our fixed assets, we utilize state of the art equipment and emphasize readiness through training.
Our Command sponsors Chief Petty Officer, First Class, and Second Class Petty Officer Associations. We also encourage Sailor and family participation in all our Navy’s programs including off-duty education. NOPF and NAS Whidbey Island Morale Welfare and Recreation departments are extremely active hosting a variety of activities throughout the year including: intramural sport teams, ski trips, family picnics, Command bowling day, movie day, golf tournaments and trips to various local attractions, including Seattle and Canada, just to name a few.
You will find there is plenty to do and see to keep you busy, but to ensure our Command’s continued success I strongly encourage you and your family to join in and be an active member of our Command so we may continue to be the best in the Navy.
You will be receiving notification of your command sponsor shortly, please contact him/her as soon as possible so he/she can answer any of your questions to allow you a smooth transition to the NOPF team.
Again, Congratulations and Welcome Aboard! I’m sure you will find your tour at NOPF Whidbey Island both challenging and rewarding. I look forward to personally meeting you upon your arrival. For assistance, don’t hesitate to call me at: COMM (360) 257-0281 or DSN 820-0281.
COMMANDING OFFICER
Executive Officer • Command Master Chief
Commander Marc C. Eckardt
CDR Eckardt then reported to the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Center, San Diego, California as the Staff Liaison Officer and Fleet Liaison Department Head. He was the liaison for both AIRFOR and SURFOR on METOC related issues such as the NATOPS manual, the Surface Force Training Manual, afloat qualifications, QM training, and significant changes to afloat manning. He also served as the ATG METOC assessor for all Pacific Fleet units, Command Security Manager, Administrative Officer, and later fleeted up to Executive Officer. Within the Fleet Operations Directorate, he served as assistant Director and assisted with the Strike Group Oceanography Team standup.
In May 2006, Commander Eckardt reported to the Naval Personnel Command as the Assistant Oceanography Community Detailer, Placement Officer, and Community Manager. In January 2008 he transitioned to fulltime Community Manager and helped stand up the newly established Community Management Command (BUPERS-3), in Millington, Tennessee. CDR Eckardt reported to Naval Ocean Processing Facility as Executive Officer in September 2008, assuming Command in June 2010. He currently lives in Oak Harbor with his family.
CANADIAN DETACHMENT
Home • Commanding Officer • Coxswain • Canadian Navy • en Francais • Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) • Passport Canada • Registrar of Imported Vehicles
Welcome to Naval Ocean Processing Facility Whidbey Island (NOPFWI). With your posting, you are about to join an exclusive bi-national team responsible for providing timely and accurate acoustic cueing to operating and supporting forces throughout the Pacific, and conduct continuous maritime surveillance for Homeland Security. I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the Canadian Contingent.
NOPFWI is the pride of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System; the workplace is modern and comfortable, and the equipment is state of the art. You can be assured that your tour in this new environment will be professionally challenging and personally rewarding.
As you may well be aware, the US Pacific Northwest is a beautiful part of the world in which to live. Oak Harbor is a pleasant community with most of the conveniences you should need. Vancouver and Seattle, each with their own attractions, are only two hours away. All this should combine to make your stay in the United States a full and enjoyable time. If you have any questions about the local area, your HHT and your posting, contact our Chief Clerk at AUTOVON 312-820-0193 or commercial (360)257-0193.
DÉTACHMENT CANADIEN
Home • Commanding Officer • Coxswain • Marine Canadienne • Version Anglais • Personnel de liaison de la Défense canadienne à Washington • Passeport Canada • Registraire des véhicules importés
Bienvenue à Naval océan une installation de traitement de Whidbey Island (NOPFWI). Avec votre détachement, vous êtes sur le point de rejoindre un bi-exclusif équipe nationale chargée de fournir en temps opportun et précis acoustique positionner à l'exploitation et de soutenir les forces de tout le Pacifique, et de la conduite continue de surveillance maritime pour la sécurité intérieure. Je suis heureux de souhaiter une chaleureuse bienvenue à vous au nom du contingent canadien.
NOPFWI est la fierté de la sous-intégré de système de surveillance, le lieu de travail est moderne et confortable, ainsi que l'équipement est l'état de l'art. Vous pouvez être assuré que votre visite dans ce nouvel environnement sera difficile professionnellement et personnellement gratifiant.
Comme vous mai bien être conscients, les États-Unis Pacifique du Nord-Ouest est une belle partie du monde où il fait bon vivre. Oak Harbor est une communauté agréable avec la plupart des commodités dont vous avez besoin. Vancouver et de Seattle, chacun avec leurs propres attractions, sont seulement deux heures de route. Tout cela doit se combinent pour faire de votre séjour aux États-Unis et un agréable moment. Si vous avez des questions sur la région, votre VRD et votre détachement, veuillez communiquer avec notre chef de service à AUTOVON 312-820-0193 ou commercial (360) 257-0193.
CanDet Commanding Officer
Home • Coxswain • Canadian Navy • en Francais • Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) • Passport Canada • Registrar of Imported Vehicles
Lieutenant Commander Nicholas J. Underhill
Lieutenant-Commander Underhill was born and raised in the United Kingdom as a dual Canadian-British citizen. He grew up in Cornwall and eventually attended university at the University of St Andrews in Scotland from which he graduated with a BSc(Hons) in Pure Mathematics in 1994. In 1996, he moved to Canada and joined the Navy within 3 months of arrival, starting his Basic Officer Training in January 1997.
Following MARS training which included two months spent sailing in HMCS ORIOLE around Australia and New Zealand where he participated in the Sydney to Hobart Tall Ships Race, he was posted to HMCS FREDERICTON. However, HMCS FREDERICTON initially sailed without room for him onboard and so he spent three-and-a-half months sailing in ARA (Armada República Argentina) LIBERTAD, an Argentine Navy sail training ship.
On his return to HMCS FREDERICTON, he completed his Certificate of Competency Level II while sailing for several deployments including time with the NATO Standing Naval Force in the Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT). He then completed the Anti-Submarine Warfare Controller course before joining HMCS TORONTO and subsequently deploying as part of the first contingent of Canadian ships to deploy for Operation APOLLO.
Following his time onboard HMCS TORONTO, he joined the Naval Officer Training Centre VENTURE as a Course Training Officer for three years before proceeding on the Operations Room Officer course and then spending a year as the Weapons Officer of HMCS ALGONQUIN. As HMCS ALGONQUIN headed into refit at the end of this year, LCdr Underhill headed off to CFB PETAWAWA to participate in Roto 6 of Operation ATHENA with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, subsequently spending from August 2008 until mid-April 2009 as the Senior Duty Officer deployed in Kandahar City at Camp NATHAN SMITH.
CanDet Commanding Officer
Home • Commanding Officer • Canadian Navy • en Francais • Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) • Passport Canada • Registrar of Imported Vehicles
Lieutenant Commander Nicholas J. Underhill
On his return to Canada, LCdr Underhill joined the Naval Tender Section as the Plans Officer and Officer-in-Command for the ORCA-class training vessels. He has served in this role continuously since July 2009 apart from four months spent onboard RoKS (Republic of Korea Ship) KANG GAM CHAN in the summer of 2010 as the N5 for the Combined Task Force 151 Command staff engaged in Counter-Piracy operations around Somalia.
LCdr Underhill was promoted to his present rank in April 2010, and he assumed his present appointment as Canadian Detachment Commander of Naval Ocean Processing Facility Whidbey Island in July 2011.
Candet Coxswain
Home • Commanding Officer • Canadian Navy • en Francais • Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (Washington) • Passport Canada • Registrar of Imported Vehicles
Chief Petty Officer Second Class Roger Proulx
Chief Petty Officer Second Class Proulx was born in Cobourg Ontario, Canada and is the middle child of three. He graduated grade 12 in June of 1986 and then went straight to the recruiting centre in Calgary Alberta where he joined the Canadian Armed Forces, as a Naval Acoustic Operator (Sonar Operator) in the Navy.
After boot camp and his initial trades training in Esquimalt, B.C., he was posted to Halifax, Nova Scotia and remained on the East Coast for over 24 years. During that time he sailed in HMCS ATHABASKAN, HMCS VANCOUVER, HMCS MONTREAL, HMCS HALIFAX, and HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN. CPO2 Proulx has had the opportunity to sail around Europe and the Middle East as well as all of the eastern seaboard of North America. He was onboard HMCS ATHABASKAN during the Persian Gulf War in 1990, participated in many NATO deployments, and was onboard HMCS HALIFAX during the war in Yugoslavia, where he patrolled the Adriatic. His last sea tour was as Combat Chief, the senior enlisted sailor for the Combat Department, in HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN where he assisted in the war against terrorism patrolling the Persian Gulf, and the coast of Yemen.
He was posted several times to the Canadian Forces Naval Operations School at Canadian Forces Base Halifax, as an Oceanographic, Passive Acoustic, and Tactics Instructor and finally as the Departmental Chief for the Under Water Warfare section. He has completed all his trades training and leadership courses to date, and he just finished a year long French course.
He is married to his wife Marlene for over 20 years and together they have 2 teenagers, Emily and Joel.
He was posted to the Naval Ocean Processing Facility Whidbey Island in July 2011, and has assumed the duties as the Coxswain of the Canadian Detachment.
OMBUDSMAN
Navy & Marine Corps Relief Society • Fleet & Family Support Center
How can my Ombudsman help me?
The Ombudsman can help you find the resources you need to solve almost any problem, from critical emergencies to routine requests. As a communications link, they routinely pass information from families to the command, as well as share information from the command leadership as appropriate .Ombudsmen have a direct link to the command, and are the source of official and accurate command information, especially during emergencies.
| Email the Ombudsman |
Ombudsman (am´bdzmn) [Swed.,=agent or representative], public official appointed to deal with individual complaints against government acts.
The office originated in Sweden in 1809 when the Swedish legislature created a riksdagens justitieombudsman, or parliamentary agent of justice, and in the 20th century, it has been adopted by a number of countries. As a government agent serving as an intermediary between citizens and the government bureaucracy, the ombudsman is usually independent, impartial, universally accessible, and empowered only to recommend. In the United States the term ombudsman has been used more widely to describe any machinery adopted by private organizations (e.g., large business corporations and universities) as well as by government to investigate complaints of administrative abuses. In 1969, Hawaii became the first of many American states to appoint an ombudsman.
CONTACT US
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By Phone |
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| Quarterdeck | (360) 257-0212 | |
| Base Operator | (360) 257-2211 | |
| BEQ | (360) 257-5072 | |
By E-mail |
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| Command Master Chief | ||
| Public Affairs Officer | ||
| Ombudsman | ||
| Webmaster | ||
PRIVACY POLICY
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