Oceanographer
$95KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Civilian scientific research methodologies
- — Grant writing
Live · Guide v1.01807 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/1807
NAVY · 1807Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.1807.R.04
1807 · NAVY · OfficerOceanography
Oceanography
Officer.
Navy 1807 (Oceanography Officer). 600 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $78K–$110K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours600DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEVaries, potentially up to 30 graduate-level semester hours recommended
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 1807 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 1807 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01System Modeling→ Understanding and creating machine learning models
- 02Meteorological Analysis and Prediction→ Statistical analysis and forecasting
- 03Sensor Systems and Data Analysis→ Data collection, cleaning, and preprocessing
- 04Geodesy and Cartography Applications→ Geospatial data analysis and visualization
- 05Situational Awareness→ Identifying and mitigating risks based on data insights
To learn05
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Python (NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn)+SQL and database management+Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)+Machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch)
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Meteorologist
$98KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Advanced atmospheric modeling software
- — Broadcast meteorology certification (optional)
Geospatial Analyst
$85KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — GIS software proficiency (ArcGIS, QGIS)
- — Remote sensing data analysis
Environmental Consultant
$78KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Environmental regulations and compliance
- — Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certification
Data Scientist
$110KModerate match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Machine learning algorithms
- — Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
- — Programming languages (Python, R)
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 1807 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
As an Oceanography Officer, you constructed models of complex oceanographic and meteorological systems to predict their impact on naval operations, considering factors like temperature, currents, and weather patterns.
Transfers to
You can create sophisticated models of complex systems to understand their behavior and predict future outcomes, invaluable for strategic planning and risk assessment.
Situational Awareness
You maintained a constant awareness of environmental conditions and their potential effects on naval assets and operations, anticipating challenges and adjusting plans accordingly.
Transfers to
You possess an exceptional ability to stay informed about your surroundings and anticipate potential disruptions, allowing you to proactively adjust strategies and mitigate risks.
Resource Optimization
You optimized the use of environmental data and forecasting tools to support naval operations, ensuring efficient deployment of resources and minimizing potential risks.
Transfers to
You are skilled at maximizing the use of available resources and information to achieve desired outcomes, ensuring efficiency and minimizing waste.
After-Action Analysis
Following naval exercises or real-world operations, you analyzed the impact of environmental factors, identifying lessons learned and recommending improvements to future planning and execution.
Transfers to
You can critically evaluate past events to extract valuable insights and develop actionable recommendations for future improvements.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Climate Change Analyst
SOC 19-2041You've been rigorously assessing and predicting the impact of environmental factors on complex systems. This makes you exceptionally well-prepared to analyze climate change data, predict future trends, and develop mitigation strategies for organizations or governments.
Adjacent · MatchDisaster Risk Management Consultant
SOC 13-1199You've been responsible for anticipating and mitigating risks associated with environmental conditions. This experience translates perfectly to helping businesses and communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other crises.
Adjacent · MatchRenewable Energy Project Manager
SOC 11-9041You've worked with environmental data to support naval operations, giving you a unique understanding of environmental factors that affect operational success. This background will be incredibly valuable in planning and executing renewable energy projects, considering environmental impacts and optimizing resource utilization.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA (Specific Oceanography Curriculum)600hHours
40wkWeeks
ACECredit
Varies, potentially up to 30 graduate-level semester hours recommended
Topics · 8
- Advanced Oceanographic Principles
- Meteorological Analysis and Prediction
- Geodesy and Cartography Applications
- Naval Warfare and Operational Planning
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Sensor Systems and Data Analysis
- Leadership and Management Principles
- Oceanographic Modeling
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Survey Technician (CST)40%
Requires additional knowledge of surveying principles, legal descriptions, data processing, and instrumentation.
- American Meteorological Society Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM)30%
Requires demonstrated on-air broadcasting skills and passing the CBM exam focused on communication and meteorology.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Coastal Practitioner (CCP)Adjacent
- GIS Professional (GISP)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Navy Tactical Oceanographic Warfare Support System (NTOWS) | Oceanographic modeling and forecasting software (e.g., FVCOM, ROMS) used in environmental consulting and coastal management. | Operations |
| Automated Digital Oceanographic System (ADOS) | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software like ESRI ArcGIS or QGIS for oceanographic data analysis and visualization. | Operations |
| Joint Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) Observing System (JMOS) | Weather and ocean data buoys, remote sensing platforms, and environmental monitoring networks used by NOAA and private sector weather services. | Operations |
| NAVSSI (Navigation Sensor System Interface) | Integrated bridge systems (IBS) used on commercial ships that combine radar, GPS, AIS, and other navigation sensors. | Signals |
| AN/WSN-7(V) Inertial Navigation System (INS) | High-precision inertial measurement units (IMUs) and navigation systems used in autonomous vehicles and surveying equipment. | Operations |
| COAMPS (Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System) | Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models used by meteorological services for forecasting weather and ocean conditions. | Operations |
| GEONAV (Geospatial Navigation Tool) | Similar to commercial mapping and navigation software, but tailored for naval operations, equivalent to advanced GIS and mission planning software used in logistics and transportation. | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 1807 into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.