News Briefs

Comings and goings

J.J. Gourley accepted the federal hydrometeorologist position in WRDD. J.J. recently returned from a year in France where he shared his expertise in polarized radar.

Joan O'Bannon retired from CIMMS after 26 years of service. Joan was responsible for creating most of the graphics at the lab before desktop publishing became commonplace. She then shifted her focus to web development and design and eventually became Webmaster for the OAR website while continuing to help manage the website at NSSL. We aren't letting her go far -- she continues to work part-time for NSSL under the INDUS contract.

Beth Clarke, formerly a CIMMS research associate at NSSL working with the hydrometeorology team, joined Weather Decision Technologies (WDT) as a hydrometeorologist.

James Murnan joined NSSL as an audio/video and production specialist working for INDUS. He will provide support for the visualization lab in the new National Weather Center and will continue shooting and producing videos.

Awards and Honors

Suzanne Van Cooten has received the NOAA Bronze Medal as part of a group being honored for their leadership in establishing the Coastal Storms Program and successfully completing the first pilot program in Florida. Suzanne worked at the NOAA/NWS National Data Buoy Center at Stennis Space Center, MS, before coming to join NSSL's hydrometeorology program.

John Lewis was recently elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. The election to Fellow is based on outstanding contributions to the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences or their applications during a substantial period of years.

2006 Severe Weather Workshop

NSSL was a co-sponsor of the sixth annual National Severe Weather Workshop held March 2-4, 2006 in Midwest City, OK. The three-day workshop was designed to enhance partnerships between severe weather forecasters and researchers, emergency managers, broadcast meteorologists, businesses, storm spotters and other weather enthusiasts.

Sequel DVD raises money for the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross was recently presented a check for $5,708.71 from the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. The money was raised through profits from the new "Storms of 2005" DVD, the sequel to the very successful "Storms of 2004." Both DVD's were produced by Greg Stumpf (NSSL/ MDL) and Jim LaDue (NWS Warning Decision Training Branch). More information can be found at www.stormsof2005.org.