NEW LEADER SELECTED TO GUIDE OMAHA WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NOAA National Weather Service) has named Steven D. Schurr to head the Omaha NOAA Weather Service forecast office. Schurr began his new duties as meteorologist in charge February 9. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

A 26-year weather service veteran, Schurr has held a variety of forecast and management positions in Kansas and Nebraska. From beginnings as a meteorologist intern at the Topeka, Kan., NOAA Weather Service office in 1977, Schurr worked his way through forecasting and management positions with increasing responsibility to lead forecaster, warning coordination program leader and meteorologist in charge.

“Steve Schurr brings to Omaha a wealth of experience in working with Nebraska emergency management, local officials and the public that will well serve the people of the state,” NOAA Weather Service Central Region Director, Dennis McCarthy said. “I know Steve’s leadership will be an asset to the staff and the community. He will continue to promote the excellent coordination with local governments, the business community and the public that has been a strong point of the Omaha forecast office.”

“During his weather service career, Steve has always had a vision of innovation and improvement of equipment, techniques and services. His past experience, especially the 10 years in Nebraska, bodes well for a bright future at the Omaha office,” McCarthy added.

Schurr earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Kansas State University in 1970. He studied meteorology at San Jose State University and did graduate study in business at the University of North Dakota and Washburn University in Topeka. He spent more than 6 years with the U.S. Air Force, serving as a weather officer and as a missile launch officer.

Cutting his teeth on forecasting as an intern at Topeka, Schurr advanced through the positions of aviation forecaster, warning and preparedness meteorologist and lead forecaster. In 1992, he was selected as the first warning coordination meteorologist (WCM) at the Wichita, Kan., forecast office as part of the weather service’s modernization. He supervised the office’s warning and coordination programs and community outreach to ensure strengthened relationships with emergency managers, local officials and the public. Schurr was promoted to meteorologist in charge of the Hastings forecast office in June 1993.

“I am really excited about the opportunities that await in Omaha,” Schurr said. “And I look forward to working with the excellent staff at the forecast office. One thing I learned at Hastings was that Nebraska, with its frequently-changing weather conditions, certainly presents meteorological challenges. I’m looking forward to becoming part of an outstanding group of professionals who work together to ensure public safety in one of the most active areas of the country.”

Schurr and his wife, Elaine, have two sons, Greg, 30, and Jay, 22, a student at Kansas State. Since he and his sons were all Eagle Scouts, Schurr said he looks forward to working with the Omaha area chapters of Boy Scouts of America.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (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.

Note: Media interested in scheduling interviews with Steve Schurr may contact the Omaha Weather Service Office by calling (402) 359-5205.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov