Director, National Weather Service...Farewell Message

[isohume]

We've been together for almost five years now and it is time for me to say farewell. Making this choice has been difficult and something I've been planning for some time. It's been a great honor to serve with the men and women of the National Weather Service, but now it is time for me to move to the next chapter of my life and make room for the next generation of leaders.

As I retire, I can proudly say we've improved the capabilities of the National Weather Service these past several years, a promise I made to you in my first national town hall meeting in September 2007.

Today, the National Weather Service is America's most trusted federal agency; and, we've established ourselves as a global leader in everything from severe weather forecasts and warnings, aviation weather services and space weather forecasting, to public preparedness with the Weather-Ready Nation initiative.

Your successes are too numerous to count - most memorably, your victory in the "Super Bowl" of extreme weather years in 2011, when you saved countless lives with advance warnings for Hurricane Irene, the Joplin tornado, the Alabama tornadoes, and historic floods.

Staying on top is never easy - it requires support from the Administration, Congress, and the American Public. It isn't always smooth but I can tell you that our Nation's leaders care deeply about you and your abilities to accomplish the mission. I have done my best these past five years to manage the many challenges with the kind of honor and dedication you expected of me.

Accomplishing the mission, developing an environment of respect and trust, strengthening relationships, and increasing the public's understanding of our capabilities, are some of the things I look back on with pride.

But most importantly, I am proudest of you.

You, the National Weather Service forecasters, scientists, engineers, technicians, administrative assistants, IT specialists, budget officers, program analysts and more, have dedicated your lives to protecting this Nation. I know the sacrifices you have made for the mission. I know the sacrifices your families have made for the mission.

I am very proud of you and your efforts and I pray for your continued strength to do what is necessary to protect your families, friends and neighbors from the weather extremes this country faces every year.

Farewell.

--Jack

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To the bolded I must laugh-out-loud. Just when we need Jack to fight for our ITs...he leaves. Awesome. I believe it's about time they stop making ex-Air Force Generals into NWS directors. We don't need yes-men passing the buck anymore.

[AtticaFanatica]

Holla at ya later Jack.

[donsutherland1]

Although this likely won't be a popular comment, I welcome Mr. Hayes' departure. At best, he was an ineffectual director at a fiscally challenging time when NWS needed strong leadership at the top to complement its outstanding, dedicated, and hard-working professional staff. His ineffectual management likely contributed to the wasting of NWS funds. Given Washington's fiscal challenges and its overemphasis on discretionary savings, it is not likely that Congress will be eager to replace those foregone funds.

Furthermore, I agree with Isohume's comments. Being a General does not necessarily mean that one has leadership skills that are transferable to another entity or activity outside of the military. Some military leaders have such broad and transferable skills. Others do not. Given the recent findings concerning lost funds, it is evident that Mr. Hayes was lost when it came to financial management, even as competence in financial management is an increasingly important attribute for an NWS Director given Washington's fiscal climate.

I very much hope that the next NWS Director will be someone from within the NWS ranks who has demonstrated strong leadership skills and has the understanding and background to promote the NWS's interests and help address its needs.

[isohume]

Although this likely won't be a popular comment, I welcome Mr. Hayes' departure. At best, he was an ineffectual director at a fiscally challenging time when NWS needed strong leadership at the top to complement its outstanding, dedicated, and hard-working professional staff. His ineffectual management likely contributed to the wasting of NWS funds. Given Washington's fiscal challenges and its overemphasis on discretionary savings, it is not likely that Congress will be eager to replace those foregone funds.

I imagine most NWS folks here will support your comments.

Furthermore, I agree with Isohume's comments. Being a General does not necessarily mean that one has leadership skills that are transferable to another entity or activity outside of the military. Some military leaders have such broad and transferable skills. Others do not. Given the recent findings concerning lost funds, it is evident that Mr. Hayes was lost when it came to financial management, even as competence in financial management is an increasingly important attribute for an NWS Director given Washington's fiscal climate.

I very much hope that the next NWS Director will be someone from within the NWS ranks who has demonstrated strong leadership skills and has the understanding and background to promote the NWS's interests and help address its needs.

I imagine most folks here will not support this comment.

[Ed Lizard]

More about the 'lost funds'...

National Weather Service chief steps down after probe finds agency misappropriated money

[aslkahuna]

I've encountered a number of Generals in my day and found precious few of them who were competent in anything but a** kissing and being pompous egotistical a**holes.

Steve