NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SOUTHERN REGION DIRECTOR HONORED
BY THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY

The Council of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) announced today the election of Bill Proenza, director of NOAA National Weather Service, Southern Region, as a Fellow of the Society. The announcement was made during the Society’s 83rd Annual Review and Fellows Award ceremony at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NOAA Weather Service) is an agency of the Department of Commerce.

“Only two-tenths of one percent of the membership are approved as a Fellow each year,” said AMS Executive Director Ronald D. McPherson. “Election to the grade of Fellow serves as a recognition of outstanding contributions to the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences, or their applications, during a substantial period of years.”

A meteorology graduate of Florida State University, Proenza served more than 30 years in the NOAA Weather Service and has received numerous performance commendations and awards. He began his career at the National Hurricane Center in Miami before moving on to hurricane reconnaissance at the Research Flight Facility. He served in several southern region weather service offices before joining the staff at NOAA Weather Service headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., in 1970.

Proenza also served as the NOAA Weather Service Central Region executive officer in Kansas City. In 1987, he was appointed deputy director for the southern region in Fort Worth, Texas. He went on to become acting director and was appointed southern region director, February 16, 1999.

One of the most active weather areas in the world, the southern region is comprised of ten states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Proenza leads a team of nearly 1,000 meteorologists, hydrologists, electronics and computer specialists and support staff in more than 50 offices across the southern United States.

In 2001, Proenza received the AMS’ Francis W. Reichelderfer Award for distinguished environmental services to the nation. He also received national recognition by the National Weather Association and was named by the NOAA Weather Service Employee’s organization as the National Weather Service Manager of 1998.

NOAA National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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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