Interview of Harley D. Nygren by Brian Shoemaker

• Main Author: Nygren, Harley D.
• Other Authors: Shoemaker, Brian
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program 2009
• Subjects: Arctic regions > Discovery and exploration > Interviews; United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration > History; Nygren; Harley D. > Interviews; Antarctic; Arctic; Barrier Island; Byrd; Alaska North Slope; Antarc*; Antarctica; Barter Island; British Antarctic Survey; Inupiat; north slope; Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/38816

The media can be accessed here: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/byrd/oral_history/Harley_Nygren.mp3 The interview with Admiral Nygren was short, but very informative. He was the founder and organizer of the NOAA Corps and became its first Director when it was formed. He served in this capacity from 1971 to 1981 and reported to four Presidents – Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan. His early career, however, found him on duty in the Arctic where he was assigned for three years to the Arctic Field Party of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. He was also assigned as United States Representative on the British Antarctic Survey Expedition of 1962 and was a member of the U.S. Inspection Team to Antarctica in 1970. He retired in 1981 with 36 years active service. He was well prepared for the interview with a written resume that is in his file. This interviewers tape recorder failed as the interview began and Admiral Nygren dug one from his basement that, after some tinkering, worked fine on this interview and several other interviews in the following week. The following is pertinent: 1. During WWII (1942) he joined the Navy and was assigned to the Navy College Training Program and earned his commission and B.S. in 1945. 2. In September 1947 he joined the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. 3. He was trained as an Astronomic Observer in 1948 4. In 1949 he was assigned to the USCGS Arctic Field Party. His party surveyed the coastline and the near offshore from Point Lay to Barter Island – this is where he cut his scientific teeth. This was the first accurate survey of the Alaska North Slope coastline. The maps that resulted from the survey are still in use today. The work began in January each year and proceeded until September. This cycle went on for three years. 5. The work was immediately useful to the Navy who needed the information to sail inside the Barrier Island chain off the North Slope of Alaska. 6. He recounts the excitement and trials that were endured. He notes that they employed 50 Inupiat who were invaluable ...