NOAA 2003-007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Miller
1/17/03
 NOAA News Releases 2003
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NOAA DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW

The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that its draft FY 2003 - FY 2008 Strategic Plan is completed and available for public review and comment through Feb. 14, 2003. Once finalized after the public and internal review process, the strategic plan will become the blueprint for NOAA core and future missions and will become an integral part of NOAA’s resource planning and priority setting at the agency.

Retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator stated, “As NOAA enters its fourth decade of service we face a new urgency to meet the nation’s economic, environmental, and public safety needs. This new plan will enhance our ability to meet those demands and provide leadership in the environmental sciences.”

The strategic plan is the result of consultations with over one thousand stakeholders and NOAA employees during a series of meetings conducted across the country since August 2002. “These meetings gave us a clear understanding of our stakeholders’ expectations regarding NOAA’s future goals,” stated Timothy R.E. Keeney, deputy assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere and leader of the planning process. Based on input from these meetings, the plan sets an agenda for investment of resources through 4 overarching goals for achieving the agency’s mission:

  • Protect, restore and manage use of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystem management approaches
  • Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond
  • Serve society’s needs for weather and water information
  • Support the nation’s commerce with information for safe and efficient transportation

In an effort to build specific core strengths, NOAA selected 6 core capabilities recognized as essential to sustain its mission goals. These core issues support President Bush’s management agenda and the NOAA administrator’s vision for a citizen centered, results oriented, market-based agency.

  • Integrated global environmental observation and data management system
  • Environmental literacy, outreach and education
  • Sound, reliable, state-of-the-art research
  • International cooperation and collaboration
  • Homeland security
  • Organizational excellence - facilities, infrastructure, security, human capital and administrative services

NOAA encourages all stakeholders and users to review the draft strategic plan. All comments should be submitted by Feb. 14, 2003 online or by e-mail. The draft NOAA Strategic Plan and directions for submitting comments have been posted online.

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.

On the Web:

NOAA:

http://www.noaa.gov

Draft strategic plan and comment instructions:

http://www.osp.noaa.gov