| NOAA 2000-276 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bob Chartuk 10/10/00 |
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NAMED EASTERN REGION DIRECTOR Dean P. Gulezian, a 26-year National Weather Service veteran, has been named director of the NWS Eastern Region, a federal office headquartered on Long Island with responsibility for 30 weather service offices in 16 states. A native of Lynnfield, Mass., Gulezian takes over as director after 10 years as meteorologist-in-charge of the NWS forecast office in Detroit, Mich. He began his weather career in the Eastern region as a student volunteer at the Hartford Weather Service Office and worked his way up from meteorological intern to lead forecaster at the weather service's Portland, Maine facility. He has also held the positions of MIC at the Columbia, Mo., Weather Service Office, eastern region aviation meteorologist, and deputy MIC at the Philadelphia Weather Forecast Office. "It is with great confidence that I promote Dean Gulezian to eastern region director," said Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly, director of the NWS in Washington, D.C. "His extensive experience, knowledge of field operations, and many leadership qualities, makes him an ideal candidate for the important position of regional director." The weather service's six regions supervise and support a nationwide network of 134 modernized weather forecast offices and river forecast centers which keep the American public updated on all aspects of weather and flooding. Gulezian's region covers the Eastern seaboard from Maine to South Carolina, and as far west as Ohio. "I look forward to working with Eastern Region personnel to continue meeting our agency's strategic goals and vision in providing the world's best weather services for the American public," the new director said. "Key to our success will be the working relationships we have with the media, emergency management community, business and industry, congress, and our customers, the general public." Gulezian holds a bachelor of science degree in meteorology from the Lowell Technological Institute (now the University of Massachusetts-Lowell) and a masters degree in meteorology from Penn State. Gulezian and his wife, Janet, have a 15-year-old daughter, Jennifer. |