Division
Chief: Cindy Woods
Function:
The Operations and Requirements Division implements and integrates
NWS climate and hydrometeorological forecast and warning services nationwide.
The division coordinates the NWS requirements process to ensure it responds
to service deficiencies and needs. Staff manage the NWS change management
process and serve as the approving authority for requests made within
that process. Each of its two branches has broad responsibilities spanning
the agency's national and international mission and goals.
Integrated Operations: W/OS11
(WB0110)
The Integrated Operations Branch (IOB) develops plans and writes policies
for common or integrated operations and service functions including:
-
Data acquisition and quality control
- Meteorological analysis and decision support systems
- Internal warning and forecast coordination, including WFO, RFC, and NCEP Service Center operational procedures and
interactions
- Communication infrastructure, including dissemination
and service back up.
IOB facilitates and coordinates service changes and monitors the impacts
on service effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Requirements and Change Management: W/OS12
(WB0120)
The Requirements
and Change Management Branch (RCMB) develops and implements service
requirements policies and procedures. RCMB also develops, validates
and documents customer service requirements. Staff track actions to
resolve service problems and supports the agency Integrated Work Teams
(IWT) tasked with those actions. Staff audit new system development
and the implementation of changes to ensure applicability to and compliance
with requirements.
RCMB staff sets change management (CM) policy and procedures for NWS
systems. Staff work with the Office of Operational Systems to maintain
CM discipline on all operational systems in the field and at the Systems
Operations Center. RCMB staff ensures integration of new systems with
the CM process and manages, tracks, directs, and verifies implementation
of system changes. In addition, the RCMB provides staff support for:
- The Secretariat in charge of the requirements review
process
- NWS Configuration Management Board
- NEXRAD Program Management
Committee
- ASOS Program Management
Committee and Configuration Control Board
- Systems Coordination Council
- AWIPS Configuration
Control Board
- Chair and Secretariat for the NWS Data
Review Group
The group also provides:
- Focus for establishing systems interfaces to external
users and NWS field offices
- Requirements and change management support to, and NWS representation on, technical working groups and agency IWTs
- Coordination of special impact analyses of planned
modifications to existing systems
- Support to operational tests
and evaluations of approved changes.
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