Captain Philip J. Taetz was born in Washington, Missouri, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver L. Taetz. He attended Washington High School in Washington, Missouri and graduated from Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Rolla, Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in May 1956.

In June of 1956, he was appointed in the commissioned corps of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Subsequently, he served with the Coast and Geodetic Survey for 9 years, during which he saw duty on the Ship PATHFINDER and was Commanding Officer of the PATTON. He spent a year in 1964-1965 at Stanford University on a National Institute of Public Affairs Fellowship. Captain Taetz served as Chief of the Commissioned Personnel Branch, ESSA, Operations and Executive Officer of the NOAA Ship SURVEYOR, NOAA Liaison Officer, Environmental Research Laboratory, and Commanding Officer of the NOAA Ship RESEARCHER. Captain Taetz retired August 1, 1979.

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NOAA CORPS BULLETIN, 8/1/1979