Survey Feedback Action Concern Leads to NWS Review of GS-15 Positions

The 2001 Survey Feedback Action process identified the perception among employees that too few leadership opportunities in the agency are open to non-meteorologists.

The NWS Corporate Board's Workforce and Human Capital Committee (WHCC) chartered the Vacancy Improvement Team to address this concern.

Following a systematic study of the GS-15 positions, the team identified 29 positions for eventual changes to improve opportunities for non-meteorologists. On November 24, The NWS Corporate Board Executive Committee decided that the prototype/recruitment model process will begin with the following three position titles:

"Changing these 29 does not affect the people currently in those positions," explained Dean Gulezian, Chairman of the Workforce Human Capital Committee and Eastern Region Director. "Instead, we will reclassify each of the 29 positions as they become vacant."

The team concluded that the remaining GS-15 positions are reasonably classified. Some positions, such as Meteorologist-In-Charge and Hydrologist-In-Charge, were excluded due to the nature of the work; others were excluded because of an ongoing organizational executive-level management review. The 29 positions are spread across national headquarters, the six regional headquarters, and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

The team consists of four regional representatives, one each from the Southern, Western, Alaska, and Pacific regions plus two NWS Headquarters members, one each from the Office of Hydrologic Development and the Office of Operational Systems. Two team advisors are from NOAA Human Resources and the NWS Strategic Planning and Policy Office. The team mentor is Ed Johnson, Director, Strategic Planning and Policy Office, who also serves on the WHCC.

Team members:

• William A. Barr (Chair), Office of Operational Systems, Electronics Engineer
• David G. Brandon, Hydrologist-In-Charge, Colorado Basin River Forecast Center
• Melvin (Mac) R. McLaughlin, Southern Region, Chief Operating Officer for Meteorology and Hydrology Programs
• Robin A. Radlein, Alaska Region, Hydrologist-In-Charge, Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center and Regional Hydrologist
• Patricia A. Rust, Office of Hydrologic Development and Executive Officer
• Edward H. Young, Jr., Chief, Technical Services Division

Team advisors:

• Francine Walden, NOAA Human Resources
• Michael J. Washington, Strategic Planning and Policy Office

Initially the WHCC asked the team to examine all grade GS-13, GS-14, and GS-15 positions within NWS, and consider if some positions could be more broadly classified when they become vacant. The team recommended the work be partitioned by grade, and with WHCC concurrence, the team examined the 196 grade 15 positions, deferring the 2000-plus grade 13 and 14 positions for a follow-on team.

The team obtained and examined all GS-15 position descriptions and performance plans. In some cases, the team interviewed incumbents and supervisors to get a better understanding of the duties of positions. Each position was reviewed by the team to determine if the current job series for the position could be changed to improve opportunities for non-meteorologists, e.g., by including other series in positions currently classified as meteorologist.

Johnson said "the team's current task is to develop and demonstrate the vacancy process model." It includes rewriting position descriptions, preparing recruitment packages, and more broadly advertising vacancies. The team is developing a Vacancy Process Guide for managers to follow when filling vacancies. The guide will be included in the NWS Directives System as an instruction implementing Policy Directive 90-1, Staffing Administration.

Johnson said "the team's goal is to complete all work on the GS 15 effort by the end of fiscal 2004." He added that another team will conduct similar grade 14 and grade 13 examinations after the WHCC approves the present team's work.

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Aviation weather experts from Canada, Mexico, and the United States met recently to discuss improving common products.

NCEP's Aviation Weather Center (AWC) in Kansas City, MO, hosted the December 2-4, 2003, tri-lateral meeting to discuss issues and topics of common interest.

AWC Director Jack May said the meeting had three topics on the agenda: recognizing required improvements in services in the International Civil Aviation Organization North American Region with the principal focus on the Graphical Area Forecast (GFA) for the region; exchanging information on the organization of aviation weather services within the respective States and current work under progress that would be of interest on improving services; and, establishing a framework to redraft the North American Air Navigation Plan. Experimental prototypes of the GFA can be seen on AWC's website at http://aviationweather.gov/exp/gfax/.

Canada and Mexico indicated that the Graphical Area Forecast may prove to be a common graphical standard for use in the North America Region, and the two countries indicated they will consider sending observers to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test evaluation in late February 2004.

Canada provided a presentation by Joanne Lancaster on the work that NAV Canada has done on evaluating the quality of the Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) provided by the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) to meet customers needs. The FAA agreed to assist Lancaster to find forums to present the work that is under development on NAV Canada's TAF performance evaluation.

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Forecast Office Starts Marine Users Group

A marine users group begun by a local California forecast office had its first meeting recently, giving forecasters a chance to share information with marine customers and get candid feedback on current NWS products and services.

The first comment made by the group was from Duncan MacClean, a commercial Salmon fisherman, who said the quality of the Monterey, CA, Weather Forecast Office's (WFO's) forecasts since April 2003 were better than any he can remember in the 30 years he has been fishing out of Half Moon Bay.

Topics discussed by the group included an out of service buoy that has been restored to service since the meeting; ensuring that buoy reports are available on recorded telephone products; keeping wind waves and swells separate in buoy reports, and coordinating with harbor masters on scheduling marine weather classes.

"Several of the commercial fisherman noted that they could have ‘set their watch' by the timing of our gale warning the night before the meeting," said Dave Reynolds, Meteorologist-In-Charge of WFO Monterey. "They said it was dead on!"

"I believe this will be a very positive relationship with our marine community," said Lead Forecaster Mark Strobin.

The WFO also is working to arrange a "familiarization float" to help forecasters experience the actual conditions for which they are forecasting, and to better understand the meteorological variables represented in the forecast and how they affect mariners (a 13-foot swell every 17 seconds versus a 7-foot swell every 6 seconds).

Reynolds said the group plans to meet about every four months to review action items and make sure the WFO is making progress in meeting the marine users' needs.

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Bob Leffler, a scientist with the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services, recently received the Maryland Governor's Award for his "outstanding services" to the citizens of the state.

The award praised Leffler's "demonstrated excellence" in taking weather and climate observations, his close relationship with the local NWS forecast offices, his strong involvement in volunteer work, and his availability during critical weather events.

Leffler, who has been a cooperative observer since 1970, drafted the first Cooperative Weather Observer modernization plan, which included upgrading the weather instruments the volunteers use. Currently he develops policies that ensure the integrity of climate records, and speaks to NOAA's climate partners about the agency's record keeping activities.

Read the full NOAA news story here.

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Office Recognized for Giving Back to Community

Many NOAA offices are conducting their annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charitable giving drives this fall, while others hold their CFC drives at different times of the year.

Our hats are off to all who support CFC and do community work throughout the year.

The Louisville, KY, Weather Forecast Office recently wrapped up its CFC drive, and WFO Louisville Administrative Support Assistant Pam Lozier contacted NOAA's NWS Focus to praise her office's efforts.

I wanted to write at this time to tell you about the Weather Office With a Heart. First, you have to know about the CFC. CFC is an opportunity through the selfless efforts of federal employees to generously give to literally hundreds of worthy causes and has been supporting local charities such as the United Way, the American Red Cross, and many others for the past 35 years. The CFC mission: "To promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all."

The staff of 24 federal employees at NWS Louisville recently completed this year's CFC campaign. It was a huge success. The employees donated $9432 to numerous charities in the area and continued our tradition of 100 percent employee participation. I feel blessed to be associated with such a generous group of people. How fortunate we are to have a weather office that not only 'protects the life and property of our citizens from natural disasters by issuing warnings and forecasts for all manners of severe or extreme weather, and to enhance the national economy' but also a weather office with a big heart - 'Caring For Communities.'

In the spirit of the season, may we celebrate all the wondrous ways in which we have been blessed. As we approach the holidays, I enjoy reflecting on all I have to be thankful for. I am very honored and proud to be a part of the Louisville National Weather Service team.

Happy Holidays!
Pamela Lozier
WFO Louisville