Mr. Thomas Kretz is a Software Developer in the System Engineering Center Analysis Branch. He holds a M.S. in Computer Science (1998)from Governors State University, University Park, Illinois with courses in Java, Object Oriented Design and Analysis, Database, and Network and Services Programming. Mr. Kretz brings over 15 years of service in the National Weather Service starting as an Electronic Technician working with radar and computer systems. Mr. Kretz brings in private industry experience with a sojourn at Lucent Technologies in Naperville, IL in 1999 as a software developer producing Java, XML and Database development, services and enterprise message bus (ESB) architecture. Returning to NWS in 2003, Mr. Kretz worked in the Telecommunication Gateway, until joining the AWIPS II Team as a software developer in 2006. Currently, Mr. Kretz is working to implement plugins to ingest and display satellite data from netcdf3 files. These tasks are being achieved using Mr. Kretz' talents in PostGIS and GEO Tools development along with Java and Eclipse development in the AWIPS II component architecture. This year, Mr. Kretz will be incorporating GIS capabilities into his work for AWIPS II.

1. Specialties: Meteorology, IT systems analysis and engineering, meteorological software (e.g., satellite and radar data processing), technical task leadership

2. Degrees/certifications of note: B.S. and M.S. in Meteorology; B.S. in Computer and Information Science

3. Awards - NOAA/NWS Regional/Office Isaac Cline Award (2007)

4. # of years with the Government:

5. # of years as a professional:

6. Any professional associations, personal achievements or something of note that would separate you from the rest of us: AMS

Thomas J. Day, Ph.D. is Analysis Branch Chief for the Systems Engineering Center, Office of Science and Technology for the National Weather Service as well as Chief Engineer for the NOAA NextGen program. He brings over 25 years’ experience in industrial and government consulting services, government and commercial solutions development, and the management of technical and commercial talent. This International Award Winner specializes in large, complex and unique projects where no precedent or history of solutions exists. Dr. Day holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, an MS in Computer and Software Engineering and a Ph.D. in Engineering Management. His successes are well-published documenting his extensive background in innovative systems engineering, modeling and simulation, technology/cost analysis and novel solutions development along with its transfer to operations. He currently has over 50 technical papers and publications, along with two textbooks published internatio nally and hold a patent for green energy power source.

Mr. McHale is an Information Technology Specialist with a focus on hardware for the Analysis Branch.  His professional career highlights include Information Technology roles in both the Private and Public sectors where he has worked as a System Administrator, Network Security Administrator, Project Manager, Hardware Systems Engineer, and Information Technology Supervisor for over fifteen years with eight years of service as a Federal Employee.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Studies from the University of Maryland University College in Adelphia, Maryland and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Project Management from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama.  Mr. McHale is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and is active in those professional societies and also holds Comp TIA Network+ and Security+ technology certifications.  In addition, Mr. McHale is a military veteran currently serving in the United States Air Force Reserves as a Load Planner for the 69th Aerial Port Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Maryland.

Wufeng Zhou leads the Software Performance Testing team for the AWIPS program for the Analysis Branch.  Mr. Zhou brings over 15 years industry experience to the Federal Government, where he has been with the Analysis Branch for the last 3 years.  He holds a BS in Meteorology and MS in Atmospheric Science, is a certified COTR and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).