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The U.S. National Ice Center (NIC) is a multi-agency center operated by the United States Navy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Coast Guard.

The mission of the agency is to provide global to tactical scale ice and snow products, ice forecasting, and other environmental intelligence services for the United States government.

https://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/transformations/ice_ctr/welcome.html#bkgrnd

History
The close association between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce) and the United States Navy (Department of Defense) began in 1956 with the collocation of the National Weather Bureau and U.S. Fleet Weather Central, Suitland in Federal Building #4 at the Suitland Federal Complex. One result of this move was close cooperation between the Navy and Department of Commerce to maximize productivity and efficient use of resources without duplicating effort. Later development of weather satellites and the resultant impact of satellite imagery in meteorology and oceanography led to the formation of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS).

The value of satellite imagery to global ice analyses and forecasts contributed to the formation of the Joint Ice Center in 1976, comprised of personnel from NOAA (NESDIS) and the Navy (Fleet Weather Facility, Suitland, MD). In 1995, the Joint Ice Center became the National Ice Center as it expanded to include the U. S. Coast Guard. Coast Guard aircraft, icebreakers, and Marine Safety Offices contribute valuable platforms for onsite aerial and ship observations, as well as accurate and timely ship and station reports.

Today, the Naval Ice Center (NAVICECEN), NOAA, and the Coast Guard work together to operate the National Ice Center and accomplish the national mission of providing global ice analyses and forecasts. The Commanding Officer of Naval Ice Center also serves as the Director of the National Ice Center. Additionally, the NIC enjoys a close international relationship and data exchange with the Canadian Ice Service and the Canadian Meteorological Centre of Environment Canada.

The agency produces sea ice analyses and forecasts for all sea-ice covered seas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. NIC products support the federal and state governments, especially the Department of Defense and the scientific community. NIC provides worldwide operational sea ice analyses and forecasts.

The current Director of the National Ice Center and Commanding Officer of the Naval Ice Center is Heather H. Quilenderino.