NWS Honors Two Navy Aerographers Killed in Pentagon Attack

Two members of the U.S. meteorological community, young Navy aerographers killed in the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon, were laid to rest this week in Wilmington, DE, and Morehead, KY. Paying respects at the Kentucky funeral for Aerographer's Mate First Class Petty Officer Edward Thomas Earhart, 26, on September 23 was WFO Jackson MIC Shawn Harley. The NWS was represented at the Delaware funeral for Aerographer's Mate Second Class Petty Officer Matthew Michael Flocco, 21, on September 25 by WFO Mount Holly MIC Gary Szatkowski.

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Employees Organization Ratifies Collective Bargaining Agreement, Elects New President

Last week, the NWS Employee's Organization (NWSEO) completed voting on the new CBA negotiated by the union and NWS management over the past several months. The ratified agreement has now been sent to the Department of Commerce for a legal review. The Department's review must be completed in 30 days, after which a signing ceremony with NWS Director Jack Kelly and new NWSEO President, Paul Greaves of WFO Albany, will be held. The new CBA will be in effect at that time. At NWSEO's national convention last week, Greaves was elected President, replacing Ramon Sierra who had held the job for seven years. David Smith of WFO Slidell was elected NWSEO Vice President.

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The NWS awarded an $8.7 million contract to the Enterprise Electronics Corporation, Enterprise, AL, to build and install a Doppler weather radar system at a location northwest of Evansville, IN. The new system will replace a leased radar unit. The fixed-price contract for the manufacture, installation, and maintenance of the Doppler weather radar is for a 10-year period of performance.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assumes ASOS augmentations beginning in October 2001. With the change, the NWS will no longer be providing the FAA with assistance in the form of surface weather observation augmentation and backup at Service Level A and B locations within the continental United States. The transition of responsiblity for NWS level C sites is scheduled to be completed no later than September 2002.

The agreement includes a change which will automate the lightning detection augmentation process, allowing the FAA to cancel weather observation contracts at 29 NWS Service Level C ASOS locations, resulting in a cost savings of $4.2 million for the FAA. The transfer will eliminate NWS outyear funding requirements for the augmentation contracts, and will allow WFO staff at all of the collocated Level A, B, and C ASOS sites to focus on other NWS operational needs.

The Memorandum of Agreement between the FAA and the NWS for the Joint Transition Plan for Augmentation/Backup of ASOS was signed by the FAA on July 20, 2001. For more information, contact Tim Ross (301-713-1792, extension 114), or Rainer Dombrowsky (301-713-1792, extension 110).

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NWS Hosts Two Professors from Minority Serving Institutions

WFO Wakefield, VA, and WFO Jacksonville, FL, are participating in NOAA's Faculty Research Program by providing hands-on field experiences to faculty members from Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). The program provides opportunities for faculty to conduct research and gain additional experience in science, mathematics, and engineering.

Professor Linda Bailey Hayden from Elizabeth City State University (NC), joined the Wakefield WFO and Professor George Coleman from Edward Waters College (FL), joined the Jacksonville WFO. Both participated in a five-week internship program this summer and continue to work closely with the WFOs on research projects which benefit undergraduate students, as well as the WFOs. According to Professor Hayden, "The NOAA Faculty Research Program offers me the opportunity to bring topics of current interest in weather and meteorology to my students." Currently she is converting the office's climatological information from a paper-based system to a commercial database system. "I'm teaching an undergraduate research class this semester and I have three students assisting me with designing a database query system and data entry on the NOAA project," she said. Professor Coleman is working on a research project to improve statistical verification methods for severe weather events.

According to Tony Siebers, WFO Wakefield's Meteorologist-In-Charge (MIC), there is value in agency involvement in this type of program. "NWS welcomes the opportunity to be a part of the Faculty Research Program. It is important for NWS to conduct these programs because it helps both NWS and the school. This is a win-win program. It has stimulated an exchange of ideas that will enhance our ability to provide service to our customers," Siebers said. Not only does this program contribute to the research objectives of the NWS, it sets a precedent for others to follow, concurs Steve Letro, WFO Jacksonville's MIC. NWS EEO Program Manager Gloria Walker also agrees. "Dr. Hayden and Professor Coleman are doing an outstanding job on their research projects, as well as leaving a deposit for the next generation of MSI Faculty Research Program participants. This program has started a precedent with NWS/NOAA and Minority Serving Institutions."

Professors Hayden and Coleman are the first NWS participants in NOAA's Faculty Research Program. Highlights of the 2001-2002 NOAA Research Faculty Program can be viewed at: http://nia.ecsu.edu/nrts/2001events/nws/noaa-nws.html.

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NOAA, NWS Support Cooperative Science Centers at Minority Serving Institutions

NOAA announced an Educational Partnership Program with Minority-Serving Institutions (EPP/MSIs) on September 24, 2001. The NOAA program will provide opportunities and programs for students to pursue careers in atmospheric, environmental, and oceanic sciences and remote sensing. Approximately $15 million, in FY2001 funds will establish Cooperative Science Centers concentrating on atmospheric, environmental, and ocean sciences and remote sensing.

Howard University in Washington, DC, will host the Atmospheric Sciences Cooperative Science Center. While one Atmospheric Cooperative Science Center is designated, three other MSIs will be funded and participate as partners with the center. The Atmospheric Sciences Cooperative Science Center partners include: the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX; Jackson State University, Jackson, MS; and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR.

For more information read the full NOAA news release at http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2001/sep01/noaa01096.html.

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Grant Program for NWR Expansion Continues into Fiscal Year 2002

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Rural Utility Service continues to accept applications and is urging potential applicants to get their requests in for portions of the $5 million in grant money contained in the FY 01 USDA budget to facilitate the expansion of NOAA Weather Radio system coverage. USDA will carry over the remaining grant money until the $5 million appropriation is spent. The grant program will provide funds, on an expedited basis, for use in rural areas and communities of 50,000 or less. Grant funds are available immediately and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis until the appropriation is completely exhausted. If you have questions concerning this program, call Craig Wulf, USDA, at 202-720-8427 or Orren E. Cameron, USDA, at 202-690-4493. Details of the grant program, as posted in the Federal Register, are available at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/publications/weather%20radio%20nofa.htm.

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Tibetan Officials Visit WFO Grand Rapids

On September 19, 2001, fifteen meteorologists, technicians, and administrators of the Tibet Weather Service visited WFO Grand Rapids, MI. Links to photographs taken during the visit are included in the text below.

The visit was arranged by the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture, and the purpose for their visit was to learn more about weather and agriculture as well as weather modification. One of the visiting meteorologists speaks English, and the group was accompanied by MSU professor Weijung Zhao who also translated. The group gained some first-hand knowledge about tornadoes when an F1 tornado touched down a few days after they arrived just 5 miles from where they were staying. Fortunately the group survived this experience with no damage done.

The visit to WFO Grand Rapids began with a presentation by Meteorologist-In-Charge Dan Houser on the NWS mission and structure, as well as the role of field offices. After many questions from the visitors, Sonam Dorji, the Director of the Tibet Weather Service, then described the structure of their agency and its functions. Tibet is a rugged area very high in elevation. There are tremendous problems with communications, travel, and even energy in the remote areas. Eric Damron, Grand Rapids Electronic Systems Analyst, next gave a talk on the equipment, communications, and power sources used in the Grand Rapids facility. The morning ended with a group picture with WFO Grand Rapids Staff and the visitors.

The afternoon was primarily spent with Randy Graham and Senior Forecaster Ernie Ostuno doing demonstrations of NWS technologies, including AWIPS and IFPS. The day finished with more questions. Information Technology Officer Steve Wallgren, took digital pictures and stored these, along with the MIC's presentation, screen captures from AWIPS, and pictures from the tornado damage at Lansing, on CDs which were given to the Tibetan Director. Each visitor also left with a NOAA folder put together by, Dianne Sabin, Administrative Support Assistant, that included public education brochures. Dan Houser, finished the day by presenting Sonam with an NWS lapel pin. Sonam expressed great thanks for the pin and for their visit.

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Employee Milestones

RETIREMENTS
NAME	OFFICE	TITLE	EFFECTIVE DATE	NOTE
Brashears, Robert	WFO Newport, NC	Electronics Technician	06/30/01	37 Years of Federal Service
Brumfield, Iris	WFO Newport, NC	Administrative Support Ass't	06/30/01	13 Years of Federal Service
Curtis, Jimmie	WFO Greer, SC	Met Tech	06/02/01	42 Years of Federal Service
Fair, Thomas	WFO Taunton, MA	Meteorologist	06/30/01	32 Years of Federal Service
Julian, Lesley	W/OHD	Meteorologist	09/30/01	9.25 Years of Federal Service
Taylor, Earl	WFO Raleigh, NC	Electronics Technician	06/01/01	38 Years of Federal Service
Westbrook, Herbert	WFO Gray, ME	Electronics Technician	08/30/01	30 Years of Federal Service
Wyndham, Sandra	WFO Charleston, SC	Administrative Support Ass't	08/30/01	37 Years of Federal Service
Zinn, Philip	WFO Charleston, WV	Meteorologist	06/30/01	34 Years of Federal Service

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Also on the Web...

• The CIO's office has put up a web page on accessibility information. It presents an overview of Section 508 resources to assist managers, purchasing agents, and Web/software developers in meeting the Section 508 standards. The URL is http://www.nws.noaa.gov/cio/htm/accessibility.htm.
• The CIO's office has also published a helpful page on e-mail etiquette. It includes helpful guidelines to keep in mind when generating and responding to e-mail. The URL is http://www.nws.noaa.gov/cio/netscape/htms/emailetiquette.htm.

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