OIC of ATC

[MR]

BLUF: What Officers are in charge of controllers (i.e. run the division of controllers)

I'm curious as to what career path should one take as a Navy Officer in order to be in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) community. I am currently an enlisted ATC crew supervisor in the Air Force. For us it is 13M (Airfield Operations Officer). I was just picked up SWO. Someone asked me this question the other day and I was curious. Thanks for your help. Any and all information is appreciated.

 

[Bert Beryy]

Not possible as a SWO. The navy only uses Limited Duty Officers (officers that can't promote over o-6) who were prior enlisted AC that made LDO. I'm a prior and even with my pink card and they won't let me do ground.

 

[Uncle Fester]

ACs that commission as LDOs and Warrants. There will be URL pilots/FOs 'supervising' them as Air Ops div/dept officers, but supervising them in the paperwork sense, not the 'sitting in the dark with a headset' sense.

 

[Chud]

ATC Division officers are Air Traffic Controllers (AC) LDOs. Operations Specialists (OS) do intercepts, but are not FAA certified controllers. There are no associated Line officer career paths that put you in charge of ATC functions. Aviators (1310/1320) will serve as Air Operations Officers aboard air capable ships (LPH/CVN) or others such as FASFAC ashore. The Navy if very different than the USAF when it comes to Officer career paths. Line officers do not specialize/pigeonhole into narrow career specifics, but stay generalists.

 

[robav8r]

The navy only uses Limited Duty Officers (officers that can't promote over o-6) who were prior enlisted AC that made LDO.

Interesting way to characterize LDO's. I'd feel pretty damn fortunate to promote to O6.