Instructors

LCDR Tara Lambert enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1989 and served as a Hospital Corpsman and Surgical Technician until 1995. Her enlisted duty stations included Naval Hospital Charleston, S.C.; Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va.; and Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Fla. She was selected for the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program in 1995 and entered the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Fla. She graduated in December 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and a minor in History and Religion and was commissioned as an Ensign in the Meteorology and Oceanography community.

Following her commission, ENS Lambert was assigned to the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Center Norfolk, Va., serving as the Command and Hurricane Duty Officer responsible for meteorology support to operating units in COMLANTFLT, USFJFCOM, and SOUTHCOM from 2000 to 2003. She reported to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., in 2003 where she received a Master of Science in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography in 2005. 

LT Lambert became the Officer- in-Charge of the Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Detachment Whidbey Island and the Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Component Bangor, Wash., from 2005 to 2009. She had additional duties as staff Oceanographer officer to COMPATRECONWING TEN and COMSUBGRU NINE.

From 2009 to 2011 LCDR Lambert served as the Meteorologists and Oceanographer Officer for the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a Seventh Fleet deployment.  She reported to Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center in Gulfport, MS as the Executive Officer in 2011.  LCDR Lambert was assigned to the Operations Department at the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Stennis Space Center, MS in Jan 2014.  She retired in December 2014 after 25 years of honorable service.

Her personal decorations include the Navy Meritorious Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and other personal and unit awards.