Proenza's testimony: expects to be back as center director

[jlauderdal]

Too bad Stacy Stewart isn't due back from resewrve duty in the Middle East for a year. He seems to know his weather, and sounds good talking on TV.

that is probably true. The director needs to be a good manager and an administrator that can deal with Washington, most people would be unsuccessful at that. lots of great salespeople get promoted to sales manager and fail and go back into sales.

[OuterBanker]

Too bad Stacy Stewart isn't due back from resewrve duty in the Middle East for a year. He seems to know his weather, and sounds good talking on TV.

that is probably true. The director needs to be a good manager and an administrator that can deal with Washington, most people would be unsuccessful at that. lots of great salespeople get promoted to sales manager and fail and go back into sales.

Also my point. The NHC director is a political position, like a police chief is more of a politician than policeman. More than likely most if not all of the forcasters don't really want to be director for that reason. As well as most wouldn't make a good director for the same reason, they're forecasters. I really don't know what caused all the friction between Proenza and the forecasters but obviously he could not and should not be director because it seems he doesn't along with either side.

But look at the bright side, at least he was a better choice than Michael Brown was for FEMA.

[Aslkahuna]

There is still the matter that 4 senior forecasters and some others got away with doing something that would have gotten virtually anyone else in Federal Service fired on on the spot (except those in the Military who would have gotten some UCMJ action if they did the same thing).

Steve

[miamicanes177]

There is still the matter that 4 senior forecasters and some others got away with doing something that would have gotten virtually anyone else in Federal Service fired on on the spot (except those in the Military who would have gotten some UCMJ action if they did the same thing).

Steve

I agree the forecasters should be fired for being insubordinate. They have caused many people, including myself, to believe they are now incapable of providing accurate forecasts. It will take a long time to gain my trust back.

[MGC]

So NOAA has suddenly discovered that Proenza is a bad manager? Did he go from the best candiate just months ago to being incompentent today? Come on! This reeks of a witch hunt. IMO the 40% of the NHC staff that are crybabies should be disciplined for insubordination. The NHC could get by without them. There are plenty of capable forecasters that could fill their shoes.....MGC

[DESTRUCTION5]

So NOAA has suddenly discovered that Proenza is a bad manager? Did he go from the best candiate just months ago to being incompentent today? Come on! This reeks of a witch hunt. IMO the 40% of the NHC staff that are crybabies should be disciplined for insubordination. The NHC could get by without them. There are plenty of capable forecasters that could fill their shoes.....MGC

Nice!!

[philnyc]

There is still the matter that 4 senior forecasters and some others got away with doing something that would have gotten virtually anyone else in Federal Service fired on on the spot (except those in the Military who would have gotten some UCMJ action if they did the same thing).

Steve

I've been trying to get that point across. I'm with you, Steve.

[Toadstool]

There is still the matter that 4 senior forecasters and some others got away with doing something that would have gotten virtually anyone else in Federal Service fired on on the spot (except those in the Military who would have gotten some UCMJ action if they did the same thing).

Steve

I agree the forecasters should be fired for being insubordinate. They have caused many people, including myself, to believe they are now incapable of providing accurate forecasts. It will take a long time to gain my trust back.

I also agree, and the congress was not too happy they didn't show up to testify.

[Air Force Met]

So NOAA has suddenly discovered that Proenza is a bad manager? Did he go from the best candiate just months ago to being incompentent today? Come on! This reeks of a witch hunt. IMO the 40% of the NHC staff that are crybabies should be disciplined for insubordination. The NHC could get by without them. There are plenty of capable forecasters that could fill their shoes.....MGC

I think this is a situation where he was set up for failure (possibly). There was already a division in NOAA between him and Jack Kelly. Everyone involved knew how he was when he was at southern region. It is possible that they knew he would shoot his mouth off enough and that he would not be excepted by the inmates at the NHC...and that knowing how Proenza doesn't back down...that it wouldn't work and it was a way of finally getting him out.

It's not that he's a bad manager...just used to getting his way...and given his BAD relationship with Jack Kelly (two peas in a pod)...there was a no way they sent him there without some alternative motive. All they had to do was wait. Kelly would not have rewarded him...they don't like each other.

That's my theory...at least.

[tolakram]

Yea, I was hoping all the forecasters would leave their jobs and come to congress to testify. As a matter of fact, since we know so little about the real Proenza, lets fire all the forecasters and put him back on the job. That sounds like the most reasoned position, doesn't it?

Don't let hatred of an administration or a party get in the way of reason, please.

[jeff]

For those that have lost their credibility in NHC...I am not sure why. The forecasters are very capable of making good forecast regardless of who is in charge...in fact they would function just fine without a director if need be. Believe me folks put their differences aside when a life threatening situation is at hand.

As far as Proenza is concerned AFM likely has the most correct theory as some of my NWS friends disliked Proenza very much. The rift between NOAA and the NWS continues to grow and at some point will likely become a flash point. Proenza touched on some of this in his many public statements

[philnyc]

Yea, I was hoping all the forecasters would leave their jobs and come to congress to testify. As a matter of fact, since we know so little about the real Proenza, lets fire all the forecasters and put him back on the job. That sounds like the most reasoned position, doesn't it?

Don't let hatred of an administration or a party get in the way of reason, please.

What on earth does that mean? Assuming you were being sarcastic, are you saying that the forecasters shouldn't explain their side to Congress? After all, they explained it to the Miami Herald and the heads of NOAA and NWS. You would think they'd be happy to have more "air-time".

[tolakram]

You would think they'd be happy to have more "air-time".

I don't think they were 'happy' to do anything but their jobs.

[Toadstool]

You would think they'd be happy to have more "air-time".

I don't think they were 'happy' to do anything but their jobs.

You don't get to pick your parents. And sometimes you don't get to pick your supervisors. Both cases may be sad, but true. That doesn't mean they should have gone to the media when an investigation was already in progress. The appropriate channels were already in progress, so it is confusing why they had to make this so bitter by giving group press interviews. If they couldn't get the changes they wanted through the appropriate channels, they could have swallowed their pride or resigned. No one is irreplaceable.

[DrewFL]

Proenza will not be back at the NHC as Director. The Sub-committee will wrap this investigation up after hurricane season.

[DrewFL]

Max Mayfield:

http://www.local10.com/mayfieldblog/index.html

[Frank2]

Per Max Mayfield's fine comments, the public needs to remember that the staff did not get Mr. Proenza reassigned, but, it was their comments, both in public and internally, that brought it to the attention of those at the National level, and, this in turn lead to the assessment team visit.

It was then the team's recommendations, based on the complaint and their findings (as stated yesterday) that allowed for the NOAA Director to make the ultimate decision.

It's also important to note that this same chain of decision-making could have just as easily made a decision to keep him at the NHC - his staff's complaints notwithstanding.

[Complacency]

I still am wondering what Bill did wrong? How is he endangering the public? If anything, he provided constructive criticism to improve the facilities and technology used for hurricane forecasting.

What I believe really ENDANGERS the public is when the NHC director is submissive to the bureacrats above him who care more about money, expenses, and power than they do of the quality of their forecasts and the technology they use.

This is becoming like Soviet Russia...criticize those with more power and you will lose your position. Come on people...Bill exercised his First Ammendment. We should support him...not bureacracy!

[Complacency]

I still am wondering what Bill did wrong? How is he endangering the public? If anything, he provided constructive criticism to improve the facilities and technology used for hurricane forecasting.

What I believe really ENDANGERS the public is when the NHC director is submissive to the bureacrats above him who care more about money, expenses, and power than they do of the quality of their forecasts and the technology they use.

This is becoming like Soviet Russia...criticize those with more power and you will lose your position. Come on people...Bill exercised his First Ammendment. We should support him...not bureacracy!

[Frank2]

If anything, he provided constructive criticism to improve the facilities and technology used for hurricane forecasting.

He possibly did help to shed light on the satellite issue, but, there are times when mistakes are made in the selection process - it happened at my current employer several years ago, but, was not noticed until a high-profile case (which interestingly happened immediately after this person came on board) showed the person's glaring weaknesses, and, partially due to this event, he was encouraged to find a more suitable position.

Again, that's one of the benefits of public service - in the private sector, the person would have been coldly dismissed...