James E. Lee to Oversee NOAA’s National Weather Service Forecast Office in Sterling, Virginia

JAMES E. LEE TO OVERSEE NOAA’S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA

James E. Lee has been appointed meteorologist-in-charge of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service Forecast Office in Sterling, Virginia. Lee replaces James Travers, who retired on September 3, 2004. The Sterling office is one of 122 NWS Weather Forecast Offices in the nation, and one of 23 in the NWS Eastern Region. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

As Meteorologist-in-Charge, Lee will be responsible for ensuring the citizens in the key cities of Washington D.C. and Baltimore, along with portions of the states of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, receive timely and accurate weather warnings and forecasts as well as climate and water information. His responsibilities also include maintaining close working relationships with NWS partners, including the emergency management community and the media – and providing severe weather awareness, preparedness and safety education for the public.

For the last three and a half years, Lee served as chief, Fire and Public Weather Services Branch, of the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services, at NWS headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. Other posts include seven years as science and operations officer at the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Taunton, Mass., and five years with the Office of System Development and NEXRAD Joint System Program Office at NWS headquarters.

“A meteorologist-in-charge is the front line officer carrying out the National Weather Service mission of serving the American public by helping protect lives and property," said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Serving the nation's capital, the Sterling WFO is often in the spotlight as it prepares our citizens for a wide variety of weather patterns, from intense heat and humidity in the summer to crippling winter conditions; from often severe thunderstorms to the occasional tornado and hurricane like last year's Isabel. We are honored to have Jim Lee serving in this important and visible role.”

“James Lee has excelled in both field and national headquarter leadership positions and is well prepared to lead the Sterling office,” said Dean Gulezian, NWS Eastern Region director.

Lee earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering, with a specialty in Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He holds a bachelor of science degree in physical science, with specialization in meteorology and mathematics from the University of Maryland. He is a graduate of NOAA’s NWS Senior Leadership Potential Program.

NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA's National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

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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