Dr. James Mahoney, deputy NOAA administrator, conducted a media availability with reporters from the United Nations press corps while in Geneva, Switzerland, this month. Mahoney was attending meetings with senior executives from the World Meteorological Organization, a part of the U.N. While at the WMO, Mahoney briefed world delegates as well as WMO leadership on the United States' activities in climate change science and research.

Following his visit to Geneva, Mahoney attended the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2003 in New Delhi, India. The theme of DSDS 2003—hosted by Tata Energy Resources Institute, an India-based agency focusing on sustainable development—was “Translating Resolve Into Action For a Sustainable Future.” Mahoney was a featured speaker and participated in an international panel to discuss the science of climate change.

Deputy NOAA Administrator Mahoney speaks at a WMO meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mahoney was also a featured speaker at a sustainable development conference in New Delhi, India.

Montana Governor Judy Martz presented NOAA meteorologist Tanja Fransen of Glasgow, Mont., with a letter of commendation during the 36th Annual Montana Disaster and Emergency Services Conference, held this month in Helena. Fransen, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the NOAA National Weather Service office in Glasgow, was also one of eight national winners of the weather service’s highest honor, the Issac M. Cline Award.

“Tanja Fransen’s effort to improve our services for the American people is a testament to her selfless dedication,” said NWS director retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly. In citing Fransen’s accomplishments, Gov. Martz said, “Particularly noteworthy has been your close coordination with Montana customers in the emergency management profession. You have clearly demonstrated the excellent service that all Montana citizens receive from the weather service.”

NOAA meteorologist Tanja Fransen received the Isaac M. Cline Award, the NWS’s highest honor.

NOAA and NOAA National Weather Service leadership announced at this year's American Meteorological Society conference in Long Beach, Calif., an update to the 2003 El Niño event and marked the 20th anniversary of a particularly forceful El Niño that profoundly affected that area of the country. Retired Navy VADM Conrad Lautenbacher, Ph.D., NOAA administrator, illustrated the link between improved ocean-observing systems and improved abilities in climatic and weather phenomena.

Vice Admiral Lautenbacher looks over the NOAA exhibit at the AMS conference in Long Beach, California.

Jim Laver, director of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, met with reporters at the AMS conference this month.

The new Civil War film Gods and Generals has a NOAA connection, by the name of NWS incident meteorologist Jack Messick. Messick, with the Pocatello, Idaho weather forecast office, landed a role as an extra in the film while on vacation in western Maryland in 2001. A Civil War history buff and a participant in battle reenactments, said he usually plays a Federal Army private, but because of the film’s many large battle scenes, he also played a Confederate soldier. “I may end up chasing myself,” he said.

Actor George Darrell and NWS meteorologist Jack Messick (right) of the Weather Forecast Office in Pocatello, Idaho. Messick wore uniforms depicting soldiers from both sides of the battle while filming the movie in Maryland.

Nearly 200 NOAA constituents and employees braved the wintry elements earlier this month to attend the FY2004 NOAA Constituent Budget briefing, at Department of Commerce headquarters in Washington. The annual briefing gives NOAA officials a chance to discuss the President's budget request for the upcoming fiscal year with leaders representing the broad spectrum of interests, including commercial weather and satellite operations companies, trade associations, environmental organizations, academia, and other people who have an interest in NOAA, its operations, and how the Administration is supporting the science NOAA conducts.

The $3.3 billion proposal—an increase of $190 million, or approximately six
percent—supports NOAA's efforts to:

• provide increasingly accurate prediction of severe weather;
• a deeper understanding of long-term climate and environmental trends;
• sustaining healthy marine habitats, robust ecosystems and coastal environments;
• infrastructure, maintenance, safety and human capital within the agency.

VADM Lautenbacher discusses the FY2004 budget proposal at the Constituent Budget briefing, held in the main auditorium of the Commerce Department headquarters in Washington. Also participating were NOAA budget director Jolene Lauria-Sullens, and OFA director Sonya Stewart.

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Date Last Updated: February 24, 2003 1:48 PM