a federal government officer in charge of a district in the Far North.
See also: N.S.O.
- 1955  The first phase of the program calls for construction of a two-room school which can be enlarged, housing for a northern service officer, a technical instructor and a school teacher, a warehouse, garage-workshop, mess hall, bunk house and power house.
- 1964  Teachers in Eskimo schools . . . were expected to perform welfare work after school hours; but the added burden proved impracticable, and today special "welfare officers" and "northern service officers" carry out those duties.