Francis D. Moran

Rear Admiral Francis D. "Bill" Moran (born 8 April 1935) is a retired career officer who served in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, its successor, the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps (ESSA Corps), and the ESSA Corps's successor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps). He served as the third Director of the NOAA Corps.

During his career, Moran created and led two new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aviation units, and also established the first fisheries program for NOAA personnel.

Early life Moran was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on 8 April 1935. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree After graduating, he was awarded an assistantship at the University of Tennessee. during his time at the university, he established and attended the first fisheries program for NOAA personnel. From 1975 to 1981, he was assigned to the NOAA Research Facilities Center, where he established and served as chief of the Helicopter Operations Group,