2012 Awards
Science and Engineering
Cecelia DeLuca for being the driving force behind the important and novel software development efforts at NOAA’s Environmental Software Infrastructure and Interoperability Group (NESII). She guides the group with diverse expertise in high-performance computing, software project management, and Earth sciences, and a vision to bring their efforts to fruition.
Anna Karion, Tim Newberger, and Colm Sweeney for developing a new atmospheric sampling instrument, the AirCore, which can profile altitude gradients of greenhouse gases. The low-cost, lightweight tool also can be used to validate satellite profiles and may yield new discoveries in stratospheric composition and circulation trends.
Dan Lack for his work putting black carbon emissions inventories for shipping on a sound scientific basis, which has had a major impact on policy decisions for regulation of international shipping.
Troy Thornberry, Andrew Rollins, and Laurel Watts for designing and demonstrating an airborne chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) for ultra-low water vapor measurements in the lower stratosphere. Their effort led to unique measurements that will advance our understanding of water vapor in the climate system.
Service
Ken Aiken for his essential work mastering, maintaining, and teaching all things digital. The research of NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Division requires multifaceted data collection, manipulation, and presentation, at which Aiken is an unparalleled expert.
Dave Gallaher and Ron Weaver for their leadership in data center design and operation with the NSIDC Green Data Center project. The innovative data center redesign slashed energy consumption for data center cooling by more than 90 percent, demonstrating how other data centers and the technology industry can save energy and reduce carbon emissions.
Director’s Award for Diversity
Edward Aruajo-Pradere for demonstrating that a distinguished scientific career and regular diversity outreach can be combined to the benefit of both.
Director’s Award
Jon Eischeid for his essential work authoring the hydro-climate report “Understanding and Explaining Hydro-Climate Variations at Devils Lake.” This key assessment of the climate conditions relevant to the recent rise of Devils Lake elevation supports the Interagency Initiative to Address Flooding Issues at Devils Lake, North Dakota.
