Print
Oct 24, 2007 1:27 pm US/Eastern
Deadline Looms For NHC Top Spot
MIAMI (SUN-SENTINEL) ―
As the deadline approaches to apply to be the next director of the National Hurricane Center, only two men have submitted their names for consideration.
The Sun-Sentinel reports while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has not revealed who those two men are, acting deputy director Bill Read has confirmed that he has applied. Colleagues of senior hurricane specialist Rick Knabb have also reported that he's applied for the position.
"Those are two first-class acts, in Rick Knabb and Bill Read," former director Max Mayfield told the Sun-Sentinel. "Our nation's hurricane program would be well served by either of those folks."
While Knabb may have more experience in tropical forecasting, Read has been a National Weather Service manager for 15 years. His most recent assignment was the head of the Houston-Galveston office.
Both men are vying for the position most recently held by Bill Proenza who was tapped after Mayfield stepped down. Soon after taking over, Proenza made headlines by chastising his agency for spending money on public relations campaigns instead of on new equipment and manpower. He also reportedly alienated several forecasters at National Hurricane Center by his actions. He was removed from office in July, and deputy director Ed Rappaport was tapped to fill in the position until a permanent replacement could be found.
The deadline to submit an application for the position ends at the close of business on Wednesday. NOAA officials intend to select the new director within 30 days so that he or she may be in place for the NOAA Hurricane Conference at the end of November when policy issues are discussed.
(CBS/SUN-SENTINEL)
