NOAA 2002-027 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patrick Slattery 3/20/02

NOAA News Releases 2002 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs

JACK MAY NAMED DIRECTOR OF NOAA'S AVIATION WEATHER CENTER The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this week named John A. "Jack" May director of the (NOAA) National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center (AWC) in Kansas City, Mo. May is charged with continuing the improvement of weather services to the commercial and general aviation industry. The AWC works with national and international aviation organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Transport Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization to develop aviation weather products. "His work brought a more unified approach to producing aviation forecasts with our partners, better coordination of AWC product and services with our customers, and consistent collaboration with the research and technology groups inside and outside the agency," said Louis Uccellini, director of the (NOAA) National Weather Service's National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). "In cooperation with our public and private partners," May said, "we've developed new weather forecasting and tracking products to make air travel in the United States safer than ever." Most recently May was deputy director of the (NOAA) National Weather Service Central Region. He also was chief meteorologist for the state of Kansas, deputy chief meteorologist of Ohio, computer systems manager for the (NOAA) National Weather Service Eastern Region, and was an aviation forecaster in Cleveland; Raleigh, N.C.; Portland, Maine; and Albany, N.Y. May earned his private pilot's certification while in college. A native of Rome, N.Y., May began his meteorology career while a student at Parks College of Aeronautical Technology in St. Louis. He received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical meteorology from Parks College in 1973 and joined the Weather Service full time in 1974. In 1997, he received a master's degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. AWC is one of the (NOAA) National Weather Service's National Centers for Environmental Prediction. NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NWS 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, visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov.