A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post in support of Bill Proenza and the public comments that he was making in regards to a poorly thought out NOAA publicity campaign and cuts in hurricane research. It seemed that Proenza was willing to fight for what was right in regards to his facility and team.
Much of the meteorological and emergency management community rallied in support of Mr. Proenza. But he may have crossed the line when he made a public statement that the QuikScat satellite was in danger of failing with no planned replacement. The line crossed was that of public confidence in the forecasts issued by his team.
His superiors at NOAA disciplined him for his actions. He responded by releasing the details of this discipline to the media. Then this week, NOAA sent an investigation team to Miami to evaluate the situation at the Hurricane Center. At face value, it seemed a heavy handed tactic to silence a vocal employee. But it turns out that the public drama had become more than a distraction. It had become a divisive force that threatened the most important thing the Hurricane Center has: the focus of the most talented and knowledgeable hurricane experts on Earth. These men, hand picked by Directors over the years, including the unflappable Max Mayfiled, have one goal in life: to protect citizens of the U.S. from tropical cyclones. Now they have been reduced to choosing sides and yelling matches in a messy divorce between their new Director and his bosses. Several of the Hurricane Specialists signed a petition apparently asking for Proenza to be replaced.
Now you can really appreciate the atmosphere of calm and confident professionalism that I saw last year when I visited the NHC. Maybe Max should come back just long enough to get us through the heart of this season. But never fear, the professionals at the NHC won’t let us down.
