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Bill Proenza, ousted director of the National Hurricane Center, is returning to his old job as director of the Southern Region of the National Weather Service in Fort Worth , effective Sept. 23, federal officials announced Monday.
Proenza had held that position for nine years prior to being the hurricane center director for only six months earlier this year.
With Proenza's departure, a nationwide search will be conducted "in the near future" to find a new hurricane center director, NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher said. In the interim, Ed Rappaport, previously the center's deputy director, will continue serving as acting director, he said.
Proenza was removed from the tropical prediction center in early July, after he complained that a weather satellite was doomed to die and that his superiors at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had no plans to replace it.
He also asserted that hurricane forecasts would be significantly hurt, which rankled many of the senior forecasters on his staff, who felt he was undermining confidence in the hurricane center. More than 20 members of the hurricane center staff signed a petition, asking for his resignation.
On Monday, NOAA officials praised him.
"Bill Proenza has a record of outstanding performance while director of the National Weather Service's Southern Region," NOAA's Lautenbacher said in a prepared statement. "Having him return to the region is the best way for NOAA to continue to benefit from his skills."
According to a federal press release, Proenza, a 40-year veteran of the weather service, requested this assignment to the Southern Region.
"I'm gratified to continue serving the American people in my chosen profession," Proenza is quoted in the release. "Throughout my career, I've been honored to serve alongside the dedicated men and women of the National Weather Service who have so effectively delivered our protection of life mission."
Proenza was recruited to take over the reins at the hurricane center after former director Max Mayfield retired in early January.
Prior to being released from the center, Proenza had been critical of his superiors at NOAA, saying they had misplaced priorities, spending money on NOAA image-building campaigns rather than on improving weather forecasting technology.
The Southern Region is one of six regions under the National Weather Service and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It includes 47 weather service offices and is staffed by more than 950 employees.
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Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
artist wrote:I just noticed that Hurakan! Sorry. I just copy and pasted. It is kind of fitting though, isn't it?
...The title almost gave me a heart attack as I was expecting it to finish "National Hurricane Center." Very catchy!!!
Coredesat wrote:I changed the title, then saw the humor value of it and decided to change it back.
