David Caldwell assumed responsibilities as the Director of the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services (OCWWS) on February 4, 2008. He has served NOAA's National Weather Service in various capacities for more than 20 years.
As OCWWS Director, Mr. Caldwell leads the NWS effort to sustain and enhance climate, water, and weather services, to establish NWS operational requirements, to evaluate customer satisfaction, and to train the workforce. OCWWS comprises a staff of nearly 200 federal employees, contractors, and associates in five geographic locations across the country. Their activities require active coordination and collaboration with all members of the climate and hydrometeorological communities as well as all weather-sensitive constituent communities including other Federal, state, and local government agencies, the media, the private weather information sector, universities, non-governmental organizations, constituent organizations, and the public.
Mr. Caldwell served as the Chief Operating Officer for the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) from 1998 to early 2008 where he had responsibility for day-to-day operations of nine national centers. While at NCEP, he successfully led an eight-year effort to secure support and a budget for a new NCEP facility. Construction began in May 2007.
Mr. Caldwell began his career in NWS as a forecaster in the St. Louis, MO, forecast office in 1976. He spent 10 years on the NEXRAD program and from 1997 to 1998, served as NEXRAD Program Manager. The NEXRAD Program was a $1.5 billion tri-agency radar acquisition program with members from the Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, and the Department of Transportation. He received the Department of Commerce's 1998 Gold Medal Award for Leadership during this time. Mr. Caldwell also has received three Bronze Medal Awards.
Mr. Caldwell holds a Masters of Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC, and a B.S. in Mathematics and Science from the District of Columbia Teachers College (now the University of DC). He also studied Meteorology at Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA.