NOAA 2002-R935
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Miller
11/14/02		 NOAA News Releases 2002
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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.

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http://www.noaa.gov.