Congratulations to the 2011 OAR Employee of the Year Award Winners
Feb. 1, 2012
Each year, NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research holds a competition to identify federal employees to receive Employee of the Year Awards. This year, four individuals and one group are honored for promoting excellence in their support of the programs and operations of NOAA Research.
“It takes a team of federal, contractor, and university partners to produce preeminent research,” said Craig McLean, NOAA acting assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research. “The OAR Employee of the Year award provides an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our federal employees and we celebrate their outstanding achievements.”
Congratulations to the 2011 NOAA Research Employee of the Year Award Winners:

Brenda Alford, management analyst for the Oversight and Policy Analysis Division, NOAA Research headquarters, Silver Spring, Md., for her outstanding leadership, customer service, and administrative and technical support in focusing and directing NOAA Research toward the full implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Roland R. Draxler, supervisory meteorologist for the Air Resources Laboratory, Silver Spring, Md., for his outstanding contributions in the NOAA responses to the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajokull (in April-May, 2010), the Deepwater Horizon event (beginning April, 2010), and the Fukushima-Daiichi, Japan, nuclear power plant incident.

Vince Garcia, information technology specialist, Office of the Chief Information Officer, NOAA Resarch headquarters, Silver Spring, Md., for his exceptional blend of technical, analytical, interpersonal, and leadership skills coupled with a can-do attitude and work ethic in providing outstanding customer service to research laboratories and the NOAA information technology community.

Nancy N. Soreide, computer specialist and associate director for information technology at the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, Wash., for outstanding contributions toward improving public understanding of OAR science through the effective utilization of YouTube technology.


NOAA Research Communications Office Leadership Team: Barry Reichenbaugh and Mary Ann Kutny, NOAA Research headquarters, Silver Spring, Md., for outstanding leadership, creativity, and exceptional customer service in communicating the value of NOAA research to internal and external audiences during a period of significantly reduced resources.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at www.noaa.gov and join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.