In 2003, he became director of the Commissioned Personnel Center, where he directed the management of a complex system of policies, including compensation and benefits.

Admiral Bailey played a critical role in developing innovative strategies to improve the NOAA Corps workforce.

He also introduced innovative processes for rapid shoreline change detection to correct gross nautical chart anomalies in a very short period of time.

At the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he oversaw NOAA’s aerial- and ground-based mapping operations that aided search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

He received the Commerce Gold Medal group award for technical skill and coordination in 2002 for his role following the attacks.