NOAA 97-R909

Contact: Tim Tomastik
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/27/97

Dr. William O. Mehuron has been appointed acting deputy undersecretary of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Commerce announced today.
Mehuron replaces Diana Josephson, who left this position in September. Mehuron has been selected by Dr. James Baker, undersecretary and administrator for NOAA, to serve until a permanent replacement is named.

"We are delighted that Dr. Mehuron agreed to take on this temporary assignment. His experience in major system acquisitions is a critical aspect of the position of acting deputy undersecretary," Baker said.

Mehuron joined NOAA in 1995 as the director of the Systems Acquisition Office. He has been responsible for the development and acquisition of environmental satellites, weather radar, sensor systems, ships and aircraft. He also managed a number of systems engineering activities.

Before joining NOAA, Mehuron held senior level positions in both the federal government and the private sector. He was previously deputy director for research and engineering at the National Security Agency; technical director in the Office of Naval Intelligence in the Department of the Navy; and vice president of the Networks and Information Security Division of Unisys Defense Systems.

Mehuron earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has also attended Harvard, Stanford and Wharton school programs for senior management. Mehuron has been awarded the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award and the National Security Agency’s Exceptional Civilian Service Award.