191:) form an independent "management assessment team" which would travel to the National Hurricane Center and evaluate the management situation. This team was personally headed by NIST deputy director James Turner, who delivered the team's final report. The above-mentioned letter was signed by the employees while the assessment team was visiting the hurricane center. This fact caused Proenza to speculate that the letter signing may have been engineered by vengeful NOAA management.
150:"The undersigned staff of the National Hurricane Center has concluded that the center needs a new director," reads the one-paragraph statement signed by 23 employees. "The effective functioning of the National Hurricane Center is at stake." The letter concluded the center in Miami-Dade County needs to return its focus to storm prediction and "leave the political arena it now finds itself in."
146:, said Proenza relied on an imperfect, unpublished study. Masters pointed to a different, more complete study, which stated that QuickSCAT's loss would have at most a "minor effect". The criticism snowballed, and in early July, he faced an open revolt as half of the center's employees signed a letter calling for Proenza's departure. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel described the letter:
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The Former NHC Director returned to the
National Weather Service's Southern Region Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas in late September 2007. He was let go in February 2013 for unauthorized transfer of $ 528,000 to maintenance of dozens of radar systems across the southern tier of the USA and weather
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in 1991. The NWS Employee's
Organization recognized him as the NWS manager of the year for 1998. The NWS Employees' Organization also recognized Proenza nationally as the NWS Manager of 1998 for his collaborative leadership with their union. In 2001, the American Meteorological Society recognized
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In May 2007, he publicly accused NOAA of wasting money, specifically citing NOAA's plans to spend $ 4 million to publicize a 200th anniversary celebration while the agency has cut $ 700,000 from hurricane research. In its defense "NOAA spokesman Anson
Franklin said the agency is actually only
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On July 13, the management assessment team formally delivered its final report to administrator
Lautenbacher. The report concluded that Proenza's management style was ineffective, that his continued presence would interfere with the ability of the National Hurricane Center to perform its vital
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and
Central Region headquarters before working for Southern Region headquarters in the late 1980s as deputy director, a position he served through the 1990s, before becoming its director in 1999. He had a short tenure as National Hurricane Center Director from January to July 2007.
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hearing on July 19, Lautenbacher testified that he had not yet determined what final actions would be taken regarding
Proenza and the National Hurricane Center. He stated, however, that his final decision would be based entirely on the recommendations of the assessment team.
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Personal testimony of Dr. Turner, Adm. Lautenbacher, and Mr. Proenza at a joint hearing of the House
Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, July 19, 2007
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spending about $ 1.5 million on the campaign over two years. He said it is justified to publicize the agency's mission to a public that is often unaware of its involvement in weather prediction and forecasting."
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Three senior researchers, however, complained that
Proenza overstated his case, unduly alarming the public and compromising the center's credibility. Jeff Masters, former NOAA meteorologist and operator of
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functions, and that
Proenza should be removed as director of the center. Lautenbacher then requested that the NIST assessment team formulate specific recommendations within 2 weeks. At a joint
94:. He joined the National Hurricane Center in 1963 and 1964, becoming a reconnaissance meteorologist from 1965 through 1967. After working at the National Weather Service field offices in
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satellite, which measures surface winds over remote ocean areas, citing a study that says "the center's ability to track storms could dip as much as 16 percent when the satellite dies."
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Proenza had a rocky tenure as the chief of the NHC – "a brief but turbulent tenure in which he publicly criticized his bosses and then lost the support of much of his staff."
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service staffing before expected budget cuts to the
National Weather Service. He was fired four days after being interviewed for an article in
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Commerce Secretary and NOAA Administrator announce new National Hurricane Center Director Bill Proenza to Succeed Max Mayfield.
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initiated an investigation into Proenza's management of the National Hurricane Center, prompted by concerns from
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him with its prestigious Francis W. Reichelderfer Award for outstanding environmental services to the nation.
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Proenza had been particularly outspoken in his desire to see a replacement for the aging
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On July 9, 2007, Proenza was placed on administrative leave. Deputy director
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NOAA fills Key National Weather Service Position for Southern United States.
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Bill Proenza was born in New York, and raised in Florida. He graduated from
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from 1999–2007 and 2007–2013. He was also previously the director of the
386:. South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Associated Press. Archived from
384:"Hurricane center director won't resign in face of revolt by staff"
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Bill Proenza Assigned to National weather service southern region
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248:"Weather service fires former hurricane chief Bill Proenza"
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to take action against Proenza should it be necessary.
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was the Southern Region Director of the United States
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106:(1970), he headed for work at NWS headquarters in
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366:"Hurricane chief: NOAA wasted millions"
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345:Peter Whoriskey (July 10, 2007).
215:Proenza was a councilor for the
183:Lautenbacher requested that the
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509:Florida State University alumni
198:took over as interim director.
441:NWA Officers & Councilors.
439:National Weather Association.
364:Brian Skoloff (May 15, 2007).
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405:. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
401:Robert Nolin (July 6, 2007).
382:Robert Nolin (July 6, 2007).
246:Ken Kaye (February 5, 2012).
217:National Weather Association
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446:December 10, 2006, at the
310:Biographies: Bill Proenza.
204:congressional subcommittee
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471:National Hurricane Center
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427:November 6, 2010, at the
328:February 9, 2008, at the
80:National Hurricane Center
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450:Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
332:Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
312:Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
296:Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
283:Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
279:October 2, 2006, at the
92:Florida State University
76:National Weather Service
56:Florida State University
514:American whistleblowers
499:American meteorologists
154:As early as June 2007,
108:Silver Spring, Maryland
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72:Xavier William Proenza
16:American meteorologist
175:Secretary of Commerce
390:on February 3, 2013.
178:Carlos M. Gutierrez
167:Conrad Lautenbacher
144:Weather Underground
117:The Washington Post
96:Huntsville, Alabama
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478:Succeeded by
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102:(1969), and
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493:Categories
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62:Occupation
444:Archived
425:Archived
326:Archived
277:Archived
136:QuikSCAT
98:(1968),
46:New York
86:History
43:1944/45
475:2007
368:. AP.
260:2022
189:NIST
160:NOAA
40:Born
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