Hydrologist Bob Stucky Receives National Weather Service Max A. Kohler Award

Veteran NOAA hydrologist Bob Stucky has been selected as the recipient of the 2003 Max A. Kohler Award. NOAA’s National Weather Service presents the prestigious award annually to honor individuals for sustained superior performance and distinguished accomplishments in support of the NWS hydrologic services program. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.

A resident of Slidell, La., Stucky currently serves as the development and operations hydrologist for the NWS Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center. Since launching his career at the LMRFC in 1976, he has been involved in forecasting numerous major floods along the Pearl, Red and Mississippi Rivers as well as floods associated with landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms.

He has been instrumental in incorporating new technologies and products such as the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service as part of the NWS’ ongoing modernization of its hydrologic services program.

He was also the first person to combine computerized hurricane storm surge data, in real time, from the Sea/Lake Overland Surge Heights model with information from a river forecast model to provide storm surge forecasts along the Mississippi River during hurricane landfall.

“Whenever Bob was involved in forecasting major floods, he invariably placed the National Weather Service’s mission to deliver quality, timely river and flood forecasts above any personal commitments and needs,” said LMRFC Hydrologist-in-Charge Dave Reed.

“His can do attitude and strong work and responsibility ethic, have made a significant difference to the residents of the lower Mississippi region,” said Greg Mandt, director of the Office of Climate, Water and Weather Service, NWS Headquarters. “Frankly, his professionalism and commitment have made it a safer place to live.”

The award is named in honor of internationally renowned hydrologist Max A. Kohler, who served as director of the NWS Office of Hydrology from 1972 through 1973.

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. To learn more about the NWS, please visit: http://nws.noaa.gov.