ALASKA FEDERAL
EXECUTIVE TO RECEIVE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD
NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator Recognized
for Exceptional Federal Service
The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
announced that Dr. James Balsiger, regional administrator of NOAA
Fisheries Alaska Region in Juneau, Alaska, will receive the 2002
Presidential rank of Meritorious Executive Award. This award is presented
to senior federal executives committed to excellence in public service.
NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department
of Commerce.
Each
year the president confers the rank of Distinguished Executive and Meritorious
Executive on a select group of career members of the Senior Executive
Service (SES) who have provided
exceptional service to the American people. These senior executives
are outstanding leaders, who consistently demonstrate strength, integrity,
industry, and a relentless commitment to public service. Through their
personal conduct and results-oriented leadership, they have earned and
kept a high degree of public confidence and trust. Executives from across
federal government are nominated by their agency leaders, evaluated
by citizen panels, and then designated by the president.
Balsiger, a native of Juneau, will receive
the Meritorious Executive award for his tireless efforts over the past
25 years to advance understanding of the complex North Pacific marine
ecosystem, its economically vital fisheries, marine mammals, habitat
and the environment.
“Fishery
management in Alaska is especially challenging because of highly diverse,
often competing interests. However, Jim’s determination to work
closely with the fishery management council system, coastal communities
and state and local governments to develop strategies balancing the
need for long-term recovery of endangered marine mammals and commercial
fisheries has been highly instrumental in balancing these competing
interests,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad
C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and
atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
One
NOAA executive will receive the Distinguished Executive award.
- Dr. Thomas R.
Karl, director of NOAA’s
National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., will receive
the Distinguished Executive award for his dedication to advance the
scientific understanding of climate and his ability to ingeniously
and efficiently provide climate and weather data to industrial and
business operations.
Nine
NOAA executives will receive separate Meritorious Executive awards.
- Dr. Eddie N.
Bernard, director of NOAA’s
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle for 20 years
of extraordinary accomplishments in developing a world-class oceanographic
laboratory.
- Dr.
Stephen B. Brandt, director of NOAA’s
Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich.,
for his outstanding leadership. He has engaged staff at all levels
in decision-making and problem-solving; fostered recruitment, retention
and training of next-generation scientists. He has also generated
strong partnerships with universities, state and federal agencies
that have resulted in new science programs for NOAA.
- Gary
K. Davis, director of NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite,
Data and Information Service’s (NOAA
Satellite and Information Service) Office
of Systems Development in Suitland, Md., for leadership and innovative
strategies he has brought to the nation’s civil meteorological
satellite program.
- Dr.
David J. Hofmann, director of NOAA’s
Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory in Boulder, Colo.,
has demonstrated outstanding leadership in directing the only U.S.
laboratory dedicated to long-term, climate-related observations, in
particular greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
- Dr.
James E. Hoke, chief of NOAA’s National Weather Service/National
Centers for Environmental Prediction, Meteorological Division
in Camp Springs, Md., is honored for developing and implementing a
state-of-the-art model of the atmosphere that, for over 10 years,
served as a basis for every U.S. weather forecast.
- Dr.
Edward R. Johnson, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service
Strategic Planning and Policy
Office in Silver Spring, Md., is being recognized for highly effective
efforts to improve flash flood warning lead time - from 18 minutes
in 1999 to 44 minutes in 2000.
- Retired
Air Force Brigadier General Jack
Kelly, assistant administrator for NOAA’s
National Weather Service in Silver Spring, Md., has built the
NOAA Weather Service into a customer-focused, employee-empowered,
results-driven organization.
- Louisa
Koch, acting assistant administrator for NOAA’s Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research (NOAA Research)
in Silver Spring, Md., has skillfully managed a nationwide staff of
over 900 with an annual budget of $300 million.
- Gregory
W. Withee, assistant administrator for the National Environmental
Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NOAA
Satellite and Information Service), in Silver Spring, Md., has
shaped the future of operational environmental satellites. Greg has
guaranteed environmental observations from every major space agency
in the world, while saving taxpayer dollars.
NOAA
studies the Earth’s natural systems in order to predict environmental
change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property, and provide
decision makers with reliable scientific information. The agency’s
goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities
of science and service to the nation for 32 years. NOAA is dedicated to
enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction
and research of weather and climate related events and providing environmental
stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.
To learn
more about NOAA, please visit:
http://www.noaa.gov.
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