TWO OLNEY, MD., RESIDENTS NAMED NOAA RESEARCH EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

Two Olney residents have been named Employees of the Year for 2005 from NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Maureen McMahon, an administrative support assistant, and Sherry Hostetler, a management analyst, both work at NOAA’s Silver Spring campus.

“Each year, OAR recognizes those among us who have made very special contributions to promoting excellence in our operations or programs,” said Richard D. Rosen, assistant administrator of the NOAA Office of Ocean and Atmospheric Research. “Maureen and Sherry are two of those people who promote excellence through their initiative, commitment, effort, and competence.”

McMahon has been employed at NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory in Silver Spring since 1992. She was cited for her “exceptional personal dedication, professionalism, attitude, integrity and legendary contributions to customer service across NOAA and beyond in providing administrative services.”

“I receive a lot of support from the Air Resources Laboratory,” McMahon said. “That support makes it easy for me to do my job.”

A NOAA employee since 2001, Hostetler had previously been at the Food and Drug Administration for 13 years. She was cited for her “exceptional leadership, personal dedication, and outstanding contribution to the promotion of excellence in NOAA Research grants, milestones, and NOAA performance measures processes.”

“I am truly honored to have been selected as a recipient of the 2005 NOAA Research Employee of the Year award,” Hostetler said. “The past year has provided me with an opportunity to gain extensive knowledge in grants administration and has been a truly rewarding experience. I especially thank everyone who has supported me in accomplishing NOAA Research grants management goals.”

A ceremony honoring McMahon, Hostetler, and the other awardees, Rich Beeler of Longmont, Colo., and Keith Dixon of South Brunswick, N.J., will be held March 15th in Silver Spring, Md.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through research to better understand atmospheric and climate variability and to manage wisely our nation's coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov