Commander, Executive Officer (XO) George White- The XO is second in command, almost like a "Vice Captain." He would be in charge of the ship in the event that the Captain was unable to do so. The XO's main responsibilities on the ship include the administration of the vessel, all human resources issues (ex. payroll, benefits, grievances), and keeping people happy and comfortable. The ship's crew all have very specialized talents and training, and it can be very difficult to replace people when they leave. If the XO can keep everyone happy, his ship administration duties will be that much easier. The XO makes all arrangements with the ports that the ship visits, to make sure that everyone on the ship has the proper clearances to enter the country, make sure that there is a place for the ship to dock, makes arrangements for equipment and personnel to be transported on and off the ship, etc. The average NOAA officer can expect to reach the rank of Commander after approximately 16-19 years of service.