The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) named Mary M. Glackin, to the new position of assistant administrator of NOAA Program Planning and Integration. This office was established after an exhaustive top-to-bottom internal review by NOAA at the direction of retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. Glackin formerly served as deputy administrator for NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NOAA Satellites and Information).

“I am very pleased to appoint Mary Glackin as the first assistant administrator of Program Planning and Integration. Her 25 years of federal experience, including 9 years in senior executive service, make her uniquely qualified for this vital function,” said Lautenbacher.

“Last winter we asked NOAA employees to look at the agency and tell us what was working, what wasn’t working, and what we needed to look for in the future. An internal team reviewed those recommendations and recognized that NOAA’s operation should function in the same interrelated manner as the environment we observe and forecast,” said Lautenbacher.

To move in that direction, known as matrix management, cross cutting teams were created to bridge talent, funding and management from various NOAA offices to focus on a specific issue.

The first three matrix programs within the agency - climate, homeland security and coral reefs - were selected because every NOAA line office is key to addressing them. The responsibility for coordinating these and future teams as well as the NOAA strategic planning process, will be assumed by the Office of Program Planning and Integration.

At NOAA Satellites and Information, Glackin was responsible for overseeing satellite operations, satellite data processing and distribution, systems development, research and applications, as well as three national data centers.

Glackin successfully developed and deployed a system that provides NOAA National Weather Service forecasters with the capability of issuing greatly improved severe weather warnings and forecasts.

Glackin's managerial skills saved the government millions of dollars and won her the 1999 Smithsonian-ComputerWorld Award for Information Technology in the energy, environment and agriculture category. She also received the 2001 Presidential Rank Award for extraordinary contributions to NOAA's management and programs.

Glackin first joined NOAA in 1977 and lives in Ellicott City, Md. She has two daughters, Laura, 24, and Cara 18.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (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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NOAA Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services: http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov