Director's Dialogue:
Information Technology Officers With Forecasting Backgrounds

"...A number of Information Technology Officer positions have been filled by former NWS forecasters. Many of these people are highly qualified meteorologists, some with advanced degrees, years of operational experience, and numerous performance awards to their credit. It is my understanding that such individuals, by virtue of their new job description, now are completely forbidden from issuing operational forecast and warning products. I certainly see why the ITO position should not be regarded as an extra forecaster slot, because enough IT work exists to justify multiple, full-time positions. However, when lives are at stake, why are NWS forecast offices not free to utilize every available resource in the most effective way?

Thank you for any response you can provide."

– Eric Lenning, Information Technology Officer WFO St. Louis, MO

Thanks for your question.

Information Technology Officers (ITOs) are a critical part of the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) team. They and all other members of the team are free, and encouraged, to participate in operations during urgent situations in the WFO at whatever level they are capable. This means participating in hazardous weather situations and helping mitigate emergency staffing shortages. It does not mean routinely filling shifts in the forecaster rotation.

The ITO is expected to focus on information technology needs of the WFO, working closely with the Science and Operations Officer, Electronics Systems Analyst, and appropriate program leaders, under supervision of the Meteorologist-In-Charge. The ITO's primary function is to optimize the performance of WFO system software and applications that contribute to accomplishing our mission.

Knowing forecast and warning operations will help ITOs maximize their effectiveness. They should spend time with operational staff on duty at the WFO, to understand operational IT requirements. During this process, ITOs who are meteorologists or hydrologists can maintain at least some level of operational proficiency.

– Jack Kelly, NWS Director

Telecommunication Gateway Remains Government Operation

A recently-completed cost comparison study has determined that the operation of the NWS Telecommunication Gateway Operations Branch will remain a government function.

Revised Position Descriptions Approved by NWS Corporate Board

Several NWS position descriptions for technicians and maintenance specialists have been updated following a review and rewrite by a team of experts appointed by the NWS Corporate Board's Workforce Human Capital Committee.

The Weather Forecast Office/River Forecast Center/Regional Electronics/Maintenance Staff Position Description Review Team reviewed and validated several position descriptions: WFO/RFC Electronics Technicians; Electronics Systems Analyst positions; Sector Facilities Technicians; and Regional Maintenance Specialists.

"Previous position descriptions were over 10 years old and did not adequately reflect the modernization of the National Weather Service equipment," said Review Team Leader Mark Paese, Director, Maintenance, Logistics and Acquisition Division, Office of Operational Systems, NWS Headquarters, Silver Spring, MD.

Paese said the review team revised position descriptions to better reflect the major duties and responsibilities of the workforce.

"This was truly a team effort," he added. "Each individual brought a unique perspective to the team, resulting in position descriptions that accurately reflect the roles, responsibilities, and duties of today's workforce."

Once the team revised position descriptions, the Workforce Human Capital Committee reviewed the recommendations and approved them as follows:

• NWS Electronics Technician, GS-0856-10
• NWS Electronics Technician, GS-0856-11
• Electronics Technician, GS-0856-12 (Regional Maintenance Specialist)
• Electronics Technician, GS-0802-11 (Facilities Engineering Technician)
• Information Technology Specialist, GS-2210-12
• Information Technology Specialist, GS-2210-13 (Systems Administration)

WFO Norman Gets Kudos for Using Live NWR Broadcasts to Save Lives

The Nation's busiest tornado outbreak in many years prompted officials at the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Norman, OK, to make innovative use of Oklahoma's network of NOAA Weather Radios.

At 2:30 p.m. central time on May 8, 2003, WFO Norman held a live severe weather forecast briefing on all 10 of the NWR transmitters operated by the office. The live briefing lasted 10 to 15 minutes and included the very latest thinking on the expected impacts, timing, locations, a real-time description of the first radar echoes forming, along with a review of tornado safety rules and preparedness and awareness information.

The briefing was advertised via a banner on the WFO's website, weather radio announcements, and e-mail sent to all local emergency managers and media in its area of responsibility. KSWO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Lawton, OK, even ran a crawl to advertise the briefing to its viewers.

On May 8 and 9, WFO Norman also provided continuous live coverage (for over an hour each day), for the tornadoes affecting the Oklahoma City metro area. This was done exclusively on the Oklahoma City transmitter, WXK85 (see coverage map). WFO Norman relayed the very latest storm spotter reports, damage and tornado location reports gleaned from all available sources, including TV stations, and radar locations and trend information from all available radars, including the FAA's Terminal Doppler Weather Radar.

The broadcasts garnered positive feedback from listeners and partners. Some of the e-mail comments WFO Norman received follow:

"I listened to the continual live coverage of yesterday's tornado on my weather radio. This coverage was superb. Your people should be commended for their actions."
--from a listener

Service Assessment for Super Typhoon Pongsona Released

The NWS released its service assessment report for Super Typhoon Pongsona, which devastated Guam in December 2002 after dumping heavy rain and strong winds on Pohnpei and Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Super Typhoon Pongsona was one of the worst typhoons to ever strike Guam. It resulted in one indirect death, 193 injuries, and an estimated $700 million in damage. Typhoon force winds and torrential rains pounded the Island of Guam for almost five hours.

According to the assessment report, the assessment team learned WFO Guam did a good job in communicating information as track and intensity forecasts changed and provided excellent coordination to partners in government and the media. WFO Honolulu provided excellent backup when communications on Guam failed. The team found opportunities for improvement, and developed 11 recommendations for communications, dissemination, science, and internal and external procedures.

Service assessments are routine reviews of NWS operations during major weather events. The service assessment report provides details on the support provided by NWS to Guam Civil Defense, the media, other agencies and organizations, and the public. NWS Service Assessment reports are available on the web at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/index.shtml.

New Supervisor's Job Aid Offers Answers to Many Common Questions

A new Supervisor's Job Aid provides a comprehensive resource for information as supervisors manage and lead in a complex and changing environment.

The job aid covers many of the "who, what, when, where, and how" questions supervisors ask. Who should I contact on the Employee Assistance Program? What do I need to know about the credit card purchases? What do I need to know about the Collective Bargaining Agreement? How can I have more effective meetings? How do I deal effectively with employee performance issues? Where do I find a copy of the field office evaluation checklist? Where do I find the requirements for budget management? How do I write award nominations? How do I handle the media? How can I be a better leader?

The 56-page job aid addresses all of these and many more, said Greg Mandt, Director, Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services.

"The Supervisor's Job Aid is especially important because the manner in which these responsibilities are fulfilled directly impacts the quality of life of NWS employees, the success of the NWS mission, and sustaining no-surprise excellence," Mandt said. While it is impossible to provide answers to every question and situation, the job aid provides guidance on many issues, from leading people, adjusting to change, financial management, labor relations, customer service, diversity, doing more with less, and doing it faster and better.

A team of regional and headquarters personnel and supporting contributors collaborated to develop the job aid. "While it was originally to be a job aid for Meteorologists-In-Charge, the team quickly saw the need to expand the scope to one for all field supervisors," said Richard Przywarty, Director, Alaska Region.

The job aid design team's goal was to create a tool that is easy to read and easy to use. The result combines information, advice, resource websites, best practices, and lessons learned on strategic planning, human resources, supervision, budget, leadership, and more. "The job aid is a powerful resource and will become an indispensable tool for supervisors," Przywarty added.

To access the Supervisor's Job Aid, follow this link to the National Weather Service Training Center website.

Forecast Office Seminar Includes Event Simulator Demo, Digital Database Discussion

A Spring Customers and Partners Seminar presented by the Green Bay, WI, Weather Forecast Office (WFO) offered background on the NWS's new forecast database and a look at how the NWS trains employees using a situational simulator.

Nine broadcast meteorologists representing six TV stations, and two university professors and four meteorology/environmental science students representing two universities attended the three-hour seminar organized by Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jeff Last and Science and Operations Officer Gene Brusky.

Last said his presentation on the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) generated a lively discussion on the NDFD and how it is changing the way weather forecasts are made and received. Guests were welcomed by Meteorologist-In-Charge Gary Austin, and Last began the meeting with a light-hearted "meet the WFO staff" photo presentation, which gave the visitors a chance to place WFO Green Bay staff faces with a name. Last also reviewed the 2002 severe weather season.

Brusky put the group through a real severe weather event using the Weather Event Simulator. The visitors got a feel for severe weather operations in the NWS by playing the role of the warning decision maker during the May 6, 2002, severe storms and tornadoes. Brusky began the simulation with a weather briefing, then the simulation began in earnest as storms began developing on radar, and the group had to decide when to issue warnings.

"The 'real-time' simulation was very well received by everyone," said Last. "Some commented that they gained a greater appreciation for the level of skill required to make critical warning decisions."

Also On the Web...
Kansas City Newspaper Plugs NOAA Weather Radio

Following the recent week of tornadoes in early May, a Kansas City Star reporter shared his personal experience with NOAA Weather Radio receivers and urged others to acquire one of the potentially life-saving tools. Read the article by clicking here.