Bill Proenza is the Director of the National Weather Service’s Southern Region, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The NWS Southern Region encompasses approximately
one-fourth of the contiguous United States including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida, as well as Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands. The Southern Region provides around the clock weather warnings and
forecasts for the protection of life and property and in support of the nation’s economic well-being. It is home to over 72 million residents and welcomes more than 150 million visitors
annually. The Southern Region has the most active and severe weather in the world. Weather
services for this area are provided in cooperation with the state and local emergency management
community, law enforcement officials, the academic community and the media. National
Weather Service products also support the aviation community, spaceflight activities, the marine
industry, national security, fire weather, air quality and the private meteorological community.
Proenza currently directs operations in this entire region, employing nearly 1,000 professionals
located at 50 offices across the southern United States.
A meteorology graduate of Florida State University, Proenza has served over 30 years in the
National Weather Service and has received numerous performance commendations and awards.
He has held a diverse array of field and leadership positions and his meteorological experience
ranges from forecasting and warning for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to providing climate
services. He has a unique familiarity with many types of weather from tropical, experienced
during his “hurricane hunter” days, to intense winter weather, when he served in the Midwest
United States. As a result of his experience and meteorological training, he is versed in
climatology and its importance to the nation.
Proenza is an internationally recognized meteorologist. Fluent in Spanish, he has represented
the U.S. Government in Columbia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador. He has made
presentations on climate prediction, renewable wind and water resources, aviation weather
services and weather services infrastructures. His weather knowledge spans more than three
decades and his experience includes service with the following:
- National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (1963-64) and hurricane reconnaissance (1965-67)
- National Weather Service Offices in Huntsville, Ala. (1968), Columbus, Ga. (1969) and
Atlanta, Ga. (1970)
- NWS Headquarters in Silver Spring, Md
- Assistant and Acting National Program Leader for the Public Weather Branch, Air Pollution
and Fire Weather Programs (1970-72)
- NWS Central Region Headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.
– Managed regional public, marine, forestry, agricultural and air pollution programs
(1973-75)
– Forecaster for the Regional Warning Coordination Center (1974)
– Executive Officer (1976-86) and Acting Deputy Director (1986-87)
NWS Southern Region Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas
– Deputy Director (1987-97) and Acting Director (Jan-Nov 1990, Jan 98-Jan 99)
– Appointed Director (Feb. 16, 1999)
Proenza has been a longtime member of the National Weather Association and the American
Meteorological Society. He has held appointments in both professional agencies and has been
nationally recognized by these professional societies. In 2001, the American Meteorological
Society recognized him with its prestigious Francis W. Reichelderfer Award for outstanding
environmental services to the nation.
The NWS Employees’ Organization also recognized Proenza nationally as the NWS Manager
of 1998 for his collaborative leadership with their union. |