NOAA Teacher at Sea
Linda Kurtz
Aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather
August 12-23, 2019
Mission: Cascadia Mapping Project
Geographic Area of Cruise: Northwest Pacific
Date: 8/23/2019
Women in STEM – Engineering
Meet Allyson Causey! Engineer aboard NOAA ship Fairweather
Job Title:
3rd Assistant Engineer
Time in current position:
2 ½ months aboard Fairweather
Education and/or Specialized training:
Texas A & M- Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering Technology
Wage Mariners-civil service federal employee (nonmilitary)
Do you have any plans for future education?
Currently investigating at master’s programs in Nuclear Engineering
Engineering aboard Fairweather
How did you find out about your current position at NOAA?
I met a NOAA recruiter at a job fair at Texas A & M, submitted resume and 3 weeks later I got the call! After that the lengthy background check and physical for Federal employees, I came to work at NOAA aboard Fairweather.
1) When you were a child, what was your dream career?
I wanted to be an astronaut when I was young. I looked into aeronautical engineering and attended a Federal Service academy – the United States Merchant Marine Academy. My Dad is an engineer and contractor, so I grew up on job sites and always had the mindset of math and science. I knew my career would be something in the STEM field
2) What was your favorite subject in school?
My favorite class was differential equations. Why I like engineering so much is everything is one big puzzle, and differential equations is like one big puzzle.
3) Why is what you do important to on the ship?
Engineers on ships are essentially the lifeblood of the ship, we keep the ship moving. We are the electricians, plumbers, the mechanics, and even the firefighters. The ship can’t go anywhere without engineers!
4) What would you tell an elementary school student about your work that is important to you?
I enjoy solving the puzzles. When something goes wrong, I enjoy finding out why something is not working and then solving the problem. That is what is so rewarding — figuring out what is wrong and fixing it!
5) Where do you do most of your work?
In the engine room. That’s where I spend my 8-hour shifts. The engineering room is on A & B deck — the 2 bottom-most levels of the ship. That is where most of the mechanisms that run the ship are located.
6) What tool do you use in your work that you could not live without?
A crescent wrench! Mine is handy because it can measure and tell you the exact size of the nut which makes things a lot easier!
7) If you could invent any tool to make your work more efficient and cost were no object, what would it be and why?
I would invent a tool that could reach bolts at odd angles. Like a magnetic wrench that could adjust to the size bolt head you need and could bend around the odd angles and apply torque when I need it.
8) What part of your job with NOAA did you least expect?
I never expected to be in Alaska!
9) How could teacher help students understand and appreciate NOAA engineering opportunities?
I think it would be valuable to have better understanding of what we engineers do! It’s a really cool job, with a really good salary, and very few people know there are positions like this available.
10) What is your favorite part of your day when you are working and why?
Every day is a little different, you are never doing the same thing over and over again. Something is always breaking and needs immediate attention.
11) What was your favorite book growing up?
My favorite book series when I was growing up was Junie B. Jones! I come from Florida and loved Jacques Cousteau. He inspired me to become a scuba diver at 17.
12) What do you think you would be doing if you were not working for NOAA?
I would be still be working on a boat!
13) Do you have an outside hobby?
I love camping and hiking, I’ve hiked 40 miles of the Appalachian Trail and would like to hike the rest!
14) What is your favorite animal?
15) If you could go back in time and tell your 10 year old self something, what would it be?
Take more math and science classes! It really helps you get ahead in life!
Did you know?
All of the electrical power on Fairweather comes from the generators, not the engines. It’s a common misconception!
Want to learn more about careers like and Allyson Causey’s and NOAA resources? See the resource links below:
