OKLAHOMA FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD RECOGNIZES
RADAR OPERATIONS CENTER EMPLOYEES

The Oklahoma Federal Executive Board recently recognized 11 employees of the Norman-based Radar Operations Center during the annual public service recognition banquet.

The ROC provides centralized meteorological, computer software, maintenance and engineering support for all 158 operational NEXRAD (WSR-88D) radar systems deployed worldwide and is supported by the departments of Commerce, Transportation, and Defense.

The FEB awards are part of Public Service Recognition Week, and honor the Oklahoma Federal Employees of the Year, publicizing to the general public, as well as to the federal family, the high caliber of devoted employees in the Federal service.

The FEB director presented the awards during a luncheon at the Waterford Marriott Hotel in Oklahoma City recently. “This recognition is well-deserved,” said Rich Vogt, Radar Operations Center director. “I’ve got great people doing good things for the nation’s radar program. I am proud to nominate them for these awards.”

Lt. Col. William R. George received the state of Oklahoma Employee of the Year award in the Supervisory—Dept. of Defense category. He is currently the chief of the ROC’s applications branch and the organization’s senior military officer. As the executive secretary of the NEXRAD weather radar technical advisory committee, George ensured technology transfer activities were well orchestrated through coordinated interaction with operational weather radar users, scientists, and researchers from the government and academia.

Additional ROC personnel were nominated for awards in the following categories:

• Ed Berkowitz (Supervisory, Civilian)
• Lt. Kelly Barber (Technical, Professional, Admin., DOD, GS-9 and above)
• Nancy Olson (Technical, Professional, Admin., Civilian, GS-9 and above)
• Staff Sgt. Gary SanSoucie, (Clerical, DOD)
• Cindy Laffoon (Clerical, Civilian)
• Tammy Buie (Technical, Professional & Admin., GS-8 and below)
• Staff Sgt. Robert Parrish (Technical, Professional & Admin., GS-8 and below)
• Mark Albertelly (Outstanding Customer Service)
• Tech. Sgt. Scott Kelly (Outstanding Community Service)
• Monte Keel (Outstanding Employee with a Disability)

The Radar Operations Center is responsible for modifying and enhancing the WSR-88D systems during their operational life to meet changing requirements, technology advances and improved understanding of the application of these systems to real-time weather operations. ROC also operates and maintains WSR-88D test systems for the development of hardware and software upgrades to enhance maintenance, operation and provide new functionality. The facility houses a 24-hour, 7-days a week NEXRAD help desk that assists field technicians with maintenance support. The ROC also provides or arranges for depot-level maintenance support for major repairs at the field sites that require specialized training and equipment.

The National Weather Service is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA’s National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov