I
would like to begin with an apology for the delay in
getting another message out. We have been very busy
here in Washington, promoting NOAA and preparing for
the unveiling of our 2002 budget request - we have been
giving it our all on behalf of NOAA. Let me just review
some of the activities I have been engaged in over the
last few weeks.
I have been giving numerous presentations about NOAA
in general and, more recently, about our 2002 budget
to outside groups and to Congress. I presented at
the National Sea Grant meeting in Hilton Head, South
Carolina; the Coastal Managers meeting here in Washington;
the American Meteorological Society's annual Corporate
Forum; and the National Hurricane Conference, also
here in Washington. This week I gave an overview of
our Ocean Exploration initiative to constituent groups
at the White House Conference Center. In every presentation
to outside groups, I try to emphasize the importance
of "continuity during this time of transition."
But more importantly, I always emphasize you, the
people of NOAA, because you are our greatest asset.
There's also the critical need to invest in our infrastructure
- equipment, technology and facilities. We must continue
to be the premier atmospheric and oceanic agency in
the future.
I must say that this "Acting Administrator"
job has its benefits at times. I recently attended the
44th Annual Goddard Memorial Dinner, held by the National
Space Club. I thought I was in for a long evening -
black tie is not my first choice of attire. However,
I was seated at the head table between Jack Valenti,
President of the Motion Picture Association of America,
and Keith Hall, Director of the National Reconnaissance
Office. Jack and I had a great time talking about Lyndon
Johnson (whom he worked for), movies, television and
NOAA. Mr. Valenti had really never heard of us, making
the point I stress every day about the need to market
NOAA. Several NESDIS senior executives - including Greg
Withee and Mary Glackin - were there along with Greg
Mandt, of the Weather Service, and Sonya Stewart, our
Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
We were all quite proud when Dr. Brian Soden, of our
NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton,
was presented with the NOAA David Johnson Award for
innovative and outstanding use of Earth observing satellites.
At that point, Jack Valenti turned to me to say, "Hey,
that's you!" - for NOAA.
Last
week I presented our Fiscal Year 2002 budget request
to Congress and to many of our constituents. All of
the briefings went well, and Congressional interest
ran high.
While
the total NOAA budget is $3.152 billion, or $61 million
less than the current year, this is, I believe, the
strongest, best NOAA budget submission by any Administration.
And I have been watching or involved with NOAA budgets
since 1983, when I was the NOAA account budget examiner
at the Office of Management and Budget, Executive
Office of the President.
Secretary Don Evans believes in our mission and gave
us management flexibility to rearrange funding. Hence,
while several large grant programs and earmarks are
reduced, we have been able to propose increases totaling
$270 million in priority areas for People and Infrastructure,
Satellites and Severe Weather Forecasting, Coastal
Conservation Activities, Climate Services, Modernization
of NOAA Fisheries, and the Marine Transportation System.
We are seeking increases in adjustments to base, maintenance
and safety funding, critical back-up systems, technology
infusion, new facilities and vessels, flying hours,
marine sanctuary facilities, computers, and a lot
more. I will have Sonya Stewart, Chief Financial Officer,
send out a NOAA-wide email summarizing the budget
proposal.
On April 19, we held our NOAA Constituents Strategic
Planning Workshop here in Washington. Participants
included private sector, university and outside experts
in a number of areas where NOAA provides service and
science .....from Promoting Safe Navigation to Fisheries
to Climate services. This year over 100 NOAA employees
took part and suggested how our agency should head
into the future. NOAA employees included many leadership
development candidates from each line office. My goal
is to engage participants - constituents/customers
and employees - in real strategic vision and planning
-- setting NOAA on a course for the next 5 to 10 years.
This
weekend I will be going to southern Florida to present
two Environmental Hero awards. This award recognizes
outstanding contributions by citizens who make a real
difference in their communities to benefit the environment.
One individual, Rick Moretti, runs a hospital in Marathon
Key to rehabilitate sea turtles. I will help release
two animals back to the ocean. Also, I will present
an award to the Florida Beach Patrol Chief Association
for work with the Weather Service to decrease deaths
caused by rip currents.
On
April 7, I participated in a community-based wetlands
recovery effort in the Louisiana Bayous south of New
Orleans. This project has been supported by our NOAA
Restoration Center. I was accompanied by Jennifer
Koss, John Foret, Rick Hartman, and Becky Allee of
NOAA Fisheries. The National Geographic Society sent
a film crew to record the project for its new television
station. On that same day, Bill Hogarth, our Acting
Assistant Administrator for NMFS, led over 50 NOAA
volunteers to conduct a marsh clean-up and restoration
effort at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. This
is a partnership with the National Aquarium in Baltimore
and Morgan State University. While I will be sending
formal thank you notes, I want to thank every NOAA
employee and family member who took the time to volunteer
and make a real impact on the environment while showing
that our agency really does make a difference.
Finally, I want to mention a few upcoming events.
On May 10, we will hold the NOAA awards celebration.
I am pleased to announce that Sean O'Keefe, current
Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) and former Secretary of the Navy, will be giving
the keynote address this year. Sean started as a member
of the first class of Presidential Management Interns
in 1978. Since the end of the George Bush Administration
in 1993, he has been a professor and leader at Pennsylvania
State University and at the Maxwell School at Syracuse
University. Sean is a committed public servant and
understands the importance of what the NOAA workforce
does on behalf of this Nation.
Also coming up in June, in Washington, D.C., NOAA employees
will be taking part in the Race for the Cure
to combat Breast Cancer. Our team is called "Running
with the Currents" and is led by Chris Alex
of NWS and Mary Glackin of NESDIS. I will be taking
part and will do my best to keep up. And on June 6,
my favorite event, the annual NOAA Fish Fry, will be
held here at Headquarters, replete with the presentation
of the Fish Fry Mahi Mahi Research Award. Last year's
winner, Maggie Hayes, will be required to turn over
the mounted Mahi Mahi (caught circa 1973 off of Mazatlan,
Mexico) to some deserving employee of long-standing
expertise.
So,
that's it for this week! Again, thanks for all you
do for NOAA, and keep up the good work!
