2009 Accomplishments Report

NOAA Satellite and Information Service
NOAA Satellite and Information Service’s mission is to deliver accurate, timely, and reliable 

satellite observations and integrated products and to provide long-term stewardship for 

global environmental data in support of the NOAA mission.

www.nesdis.noaa.gov

Accomplishments Report Credits | Layout & Artistic Design- Marc Pulliam | Technical Writers- Tara Mairs, Ryan Quick | Special Thanks to the NESDIS Communications Team and 

NESDIS Headquarters Staff for their input and review.

NOAA SATELLITE AND INFORMATION SERVICE 
GOES-12 imagery of Hurricane Bill, August 20, 2009.
Table of Contents

1 Letter from the Assistant Administrator

2 Top 10 Accomplishments

8 Understanding Climate Variability and Change

10 Providing Weather and Water Information

14 Article: Spotlight on Satellite Ocean Altimetry

16 Managing Ecosystems

18 Supporting Commerce and Transportation

20 Interview: Gary Davis, 

Director of the Office of Systems Development

22 Awards
Dear Colleagues:

This has been a year of significant challenges and achievements for NOAA Sat-

ellite and Information Service (NESDIS)*. We leveraged our core strengths 

and expanded our existing capabilities to serve new and diverse sectors related 

to NOAA’s mission priorities. In addition, we developed new capabilities to 

strengthen our ability to provide climate services in a more coordinated man-

ner to be as responsive as possible to the Nation’s current and emerging needs 

for climate information and data. 

As we look to the future, we must honor our role as a service agency and 

continue to remain customer-focused. We have improved our understanding 

of user needs through data user workshops, roundtables, and regional engage-

ment across the country. And we will continue to work closely with our inter-

national, regional, and state partners to understand their needs and how to best 

address them through open dialogue, tailored products/services, and outreach 

strategies. We are a leader in providing a full suite of observational and data 

management resources to stakeholders, and we must remain ever vigilant in 

our efforts to provide society with timely access to global environmental data. 

We are working hard to improve and increase the information we can deliver 

and the ways in which we can deliver it.

In a year filled with leadership changes and high priorities, I commend our 

dedicated NESDIS employees for their technical expertise, outreach efforts, 

and innovative, customer-focused products/services. I am encouraged that 

our commitment to excellence remains a constant in a rapidly changing en-

vironment. The individual and collective efforts of NESDIS employees have 

allowed us to successfully navigate a challenging and transformative year. 

I sincerely thank all of you...you really made a difference this year.

Mary E. Kicza 

*Officially, NESDIS stands for National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. 

Informally, NESDIS is also called NOAA Satellite and Information Service.

From the Assistant Administrator 

1
Photo courtesy of NASA/Jack Pfaller. 12345678910

Top 10 Accomplishments

2 
Launched a New Polar-orbiting Satellite

NOAA-N Prime successfully launched on Friday, February 6, 2009, from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a Delta-II rocket. This new NOAA 

polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite circles the globe every 102 

minutes taking images and measurements to support NOAA’s efforts to forecast 

and monitor the environment. NOAA-N Prime, renamed NOAA-19 after reaching orbit, joins Metop-A, a European satellite, as the operational satellites in polar 

orbit that NOAA uses in its forecasts. NOAA-19 carries six scientific instruments, 

two search and rescue instruments, and a data recording system. Unique with 

this satellite is an advanced data collection system that will relay meteorological and oceanographic data—even track migration patterns of wildlife—to help 

researchers improve their study of Earth’s environment. Data from NOAA-19 

supports several NOAA programs, including: weather analysis and forecasting; 

climate research and prediction; global sea surface temperature measurements; 

atmospheric soundings of temperature and humidity; ocean dynamics research; 

volcanic eruption monitoring; forest fire detection; global vegetation analysis; 

and search and rescue operations. NOAA-19 data helps NOAA monitor current 

conditions in the atmosphere and oceans and keep tabs on long-term climate 

trends. These data are increasingly important in Polar Regions, given the potential effects of climate change on the polar ice cap and sea ice extent. NESDIS is 

working closely with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) to ensure seamless polar satellite coverage. Under 

an agreement, two of NOAA’s polar-orbiting satellites—NOAA-18 and NOAA-19, 

both in afternoon orbits—carry a EUMETSAT instrument. In return, EUMETSAT 

is carrying key NOAA instruments on board its first three Metop satellites, which 

fly in morning orbits. 

Launched NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite-O (GOES-O)

The GOES-O spacecraft successfully launched and reached orbit on Saturday, 

June 27, 2009, from the Kennedy Space Center. GOES-O, now renamed GOES-14, 

joins three other GOES spacecraft that help NOAA forecasters track life-threatening weather and solar storms by providing reliable satellite coverage to see 

severe weather as it develops. With more than a thousand tornadoes touching 

down in the United States each year and the serious risk posed by hurricanes to 

residents along the Gulf and East coastlines, GOES-14 is critical. GOES-14 is the 

second spacecraft in the GOES-N/O/P series and carries instruments that capture 

high-resolution images of weather patterns and atmospheric measurements. 

The imagery and data NOAA gets from GOES spacecraft are key to NOAA’s ability 

to continuously monitor and diagnose weather in the tropics. Continued improvements in the type and quality of GOES data will improve tropical cyclone 

forecasts. GOES-14 also provides expanded measurements for space and solar environment monitoring using a Solar X-Ray Imager (SXI). The SXI data are 

improving forecasts and warnings for solar disturbances, protecting billions of 

dollars of commercial and government assets in space and on the ground and 

lessening the effect of power surges for satellite-based electronics and the communications industry.

NOAA’s newest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – GOES-14 – took its first full-disk visible image 

of the Earth on July 27, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

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Awarded GOES-R Spacecraft and Ground System Contracts 

In December 2008, NOAA and NASA officials announced that the Lockheed Martin 

Space Systems Company of Denver, Colorado, was selected to build two spacecraft 

for NOAA’s next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 

(GOES) series, GOES-R. On May 27, 2009, NOAA announced that the Harris Corporation Government Communications Systems Division of Melbourne, Florida, was 

selected to develop the GOES-R ground system. This system will capture, process, 

and distribute GOES imagery and other information to users around the world.

The GOES-R ground system will be installed and operated at the NOAA Satellite 

Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland, and at the Wallops Command and Data 

Acquisition Station in Wallops, Virginia. The advanced spacecraft and instrument 

technology used on the GOES-R series will result in more timely and accurate 

weather forecasts. It will improve support for the detection and observations of 

meteorological phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and ultimately, economic health and development, and give us a greater understanding of our changing climate. The first launch of the GOES-R series satellite 

is scheduled for 2015.

The GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) will provide significant advancements over the current GOES imaging capabilities with three times the spectral, 

four times the spatial, and more than five times the temporal resolution. Forecasters from NOAA’s National Weather Service, one of the primary users of GOES-R 

data, will see detailed rapid update images of potentially deadly hurricanes every 

30 seconds, instead of the current 7.5 minutes. GOES-R will also carry a first-of-itskind instrument called the Geostationary Lightning Mapper, which will quickly locate all lightning flashes occurring anytime, anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. 

The lightning mapper will aid in predicting tornadoes, which often spawn from 

lightning-packed thunderstorms. Other key benefits expected from GOES-R include greater monitoring of surface temperatures in metropolitan areas to improve 

warnings for heat stress and better data to bolster the forecasts for unhealthy air 

quality days. GOES-R will feature advanced solar monitoring instruments for space 

weather forecasts and warnings of solar storms. These storms endanger billions 

of dollars worth of commercial and government assets in space and cause power 

surges for the satellite-based electronics and communications industry. 

Transitioned the Jason-2 Satellite to Full Operation

The Jason-2 satellite launched successfully on June 20, 2008. On October 29, 2008, 

after four months of tests and qualification of the entire satellite and the ground 

segment, command and control operations for the Jason-2 ocean altimetry satellite were handed over to NOAA from the French Space Agency, Centre National 

d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES). The handover is a major step in Jason-2 operations. 

NOAA will now carry out routine operations on the satellite and process the operational data received by its ground stations and interface with users. It will 

also archive and distribute all scientific products.

Artist’s rendering of GOES-R Spacecraft.

Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

4 
On December 15, 2008, NESDIS and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) started publicly distributing Operational Geophysical Data Records (OGDRs) from Jason-2 in near-real-time, within 

three-to-five hours of observation. The NESDIS team integrated hardware and 

software provided by partners and contractors into NOAA’s Satellite Operations 

Control Center (SOCC) and Environmental Satellite Processing Center (ESPC), to 

generate OGDRs from payload telemetry and distribute these products to users 

worldwide. 

In addition to taking over operations of Jason-2, several NESDIS offices collaborated to archive and provide stewardship for critical climate data from Jason-2. 

This team implemented and maintained all critical archive functions necessary 

for Jason-2, ensuring long-term preservation and scientific stewardship for the 

critical climate data generated by this mission. NOAA’s National Oceanographic 

Data Center provided archive services and made the products available using 

the Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System.

The Jason-2 satellite altimetry mission provides sea surface heights for determining ocean circulation, climate change, and sea-level rise. Altimetry instruments 

on the Jason-2 satellite meet NOAA’s need for sea surface height measurements 

necessary for ocean modeling, forecasting El Niño/La Niña events, and hurricane 

intensity prediction. 

Released the June 2009 Report Global Climate Change Impacts 

in the United States

Climate change is already having visible impacts in the United States, and the 

choices we make now will determine the severity of its impacts in the future. 

This point is emphasized in the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United 

States report, which NESDIS contributed to. The Obama Administration considered this report so significant that it convened a White House press conference 

to announce its release in June 2009. 

This report confirms previous evidence that global temperature increases in recent decades have been primarily human-induced; incorporates the latest information on rising temperatures and sea levels; increases in extreme weather 

events; and other climate-related phenomena. The report is written in plain language so its findings are readily accessible to the public, the media, and decision 

makers from all levels and will further NOAA’s efforts to promote a climate-literate 

public. Adding greatly to its practical value in the realm of policy and planning, 

it is the first such report in almost a decade to break out those impacts by U.S. 

region and economic sector, and the first to do so in such great detail. The study 

finds that Americans are already being affected by climate change through extreme weather, drought, and wildfire trends and details how the Nation’s transportation, agriculture, health, water, and energy sectors will be affected in the 

future. The study also finds that the current trend in the emission of greenhouse 

gas pollution is significantly above the worst-case scenario that this and other 

reports have considered. Because the report results are divided into region and 

economic sectors, it provides a valuable tool not just for policymakers, but for all 

Americans who will be affected by these trends. Its information can help: farmers making crop and livestock decisions; as growing seasons lengthen, insect 

management becomes more difficult and droughts become more severe; local 

officials thinking about zoning decisions, especially along coastal areas; public 

health officials developing ways to lessen the impacts of heat waves throughout 

the country; water resource officials considering development plans; and business owners as they consider business and investment decisions. 

Global climate change continues to have visible impacts in the United States.

5 
Integrated Ocean Color Observations

NESDIS researchers made significant progress in fiscal year (FY) 2009 advancing the development of the NOAA end-to-end satellite ocean color radiometry 

system. This system is key for supporting multiple NOAA line office and goal 

team/program activities, and several important milestones were met during FY 

2009. For example, Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) chlorophyll-a (a proxy for phytoplankton biomass) ocean color radiometry products 

were declared operational in January 2009 and are now routinely posted on the 

CoastWatch website. In addition, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) regional chlorophyll-a products for the Chesapeake Bay region 

were declared operational in February 2009 and are on the CoastWatch website. 

CoastWatch is now making standardized MODIS ocean color data available for 

the Gulf of Mexico region; additional regions will be online shortly. Collectively, 

these efforts are helping to facilitate continuity and accessibility of quality ocean 

color data and derived products in support of NOAA and external users and their 

operational and climate applications, particularly in the areas of integrated ecosystem assessments, harmful algal bloom forecasts, and water quality monitoring in the Chesapeake Bay and other important coastal regions.

Contributed to the Rescues of 184 People

In fiscal year 2009, NOAA satellites were key factors in the rescues of 184 people 

throughout the United States and its surrounding waters thanks to the Search 

and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) Program. In each incident, NOAA 

satellites detected and located a distress signal from an emergency beacon and 

relayed the information to first responders on the ground. NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, along with Russia’s COSPAS spacecraft, are part 

of the international Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking system, called 

COSPAS-SARSAT. This system uses a network of satellites to quickly detect and 

locate distress signals from emergency beacons on board aircraft and boats and 

from handheld personal locator beacons. When a satellite finds the location of 

a distress signal within the United States or its surrounding waters, the information is relayed to the SARSAT Mission Control Center at NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland. From there, it is sent to a Rescue Coordination Center, operated by either the U.S. Air Force, for land rescues, or the U.S. 

Coast Guard, for water rescues. Now in its 27th year, COSPAS-SARSAT has been 

credited with supporting more than 25,000 rescues worldwide, including 6,134 

in the United States and its surrounding waters. 

2009 SARSAT Rescue Highlights:

● Six people were rescued from a fishing vessel off the coast of Freeport, Texas, when their boat became disabled. 

● One person was rescued near Barrow, Alaska, after his snow mobile broke 

through the ice when crossing the Chip River. 

● One person was rescued from a crashed helicopter 18 miles north-northeast 

of Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

6 
Provided New Adjusted Data to Reduce Uncertainty 

in U.S. Temperature Trends 

In fiscal year 2009, NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) released a new 

set of adjusted temperature data from the U.S. Historical Climatology Network. 

This new adjusted data allow users to monitor changes in surface temperatures 

across the United States and to place them in historical context. The unadjusted 

temperature data can be biased by factors such as changes in observing practices, instrumentation, and the station environment. For example, the move of 

a temperature observing station to a nearby location can cause recorded temperatures that are slightly different than they were in the previous location. Unless the temperature record is adjusted to account for this artificial change, the 

analysis of temperature trends could result in inaccurate conclusions. Adjustments also are required for other influences such as changes in instrumentation 

or changes in the station environment (e.g., vegetation growth or urbanization). 

These changes are sometimes documented in climate records, but often they are 

not. These new adjusted data is the first dataset of conterminous U.S. temperatures adjusted to account for the influence of documented and undocumented 

changes in the temperature observing record. 

All efforts to understand how the Earth’s climate is changing begin with the 

study of observed changes in surface temperature. This dataset is the cornerstone for the study of climate change in the United States, providing the source 

of information that establishes the foundation for climate change research and 

the scientific understanding of how natural and manmade influences have affected the climate of the conterminous United States since the 1800s. It is the 

source of data from that conclusions have been reached regarding trends and 

variability in U.S. surface temperature; a key component to the recently released 

U.S. Global Change Research Program report Global Climate Change Impacts in 

the United States.

Created an Innovative Model that Enables Better 

Severe Weather Forecasting 

To increase our severe weather forecasting ability, NESDIS developed a new use 

for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12 (GOES-12) sounder 

data. NOAA can now forecast the onset of severe weather, such as thunderstorms and tornadoes up to six hours in advance. NESDIS collaborated with 

scientists at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin, to develop and test this model. Using hourly multilevel 

water vapor observations from the GOES-12 sounder, scientists can track regions 

where upper level drying is occurring over low-level moistening. A rapid change 

in these measurements is often a precursor to severe weather development.

Developed a Higher Resolution Magnetic Field Model 

In March 2009, NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) supported safe 

navigation by developing a new, much higher resolution model of Earth’s magnetic field. This new model captures not only the field generated from the interior of Earth’s core, but also the anomalous field in the crust, a major source of 

error when navigating by magnetic compass. Magnetic anomaly maps enable 

improved navigation and are widely used in the geological sciences, in resource 

exploration, and in science education to illustrate various aspects of Earth evolution such as plate tectonics and seafloor spreading. All maps, compasses, GPS 

units, and even iPhones rely on magnetic models to provide the orientation difference between true, geographic, and magnetic north. The new and improved 

model, designated EMAG2, will lead to more accurate navigational capability for 

ships and aircraft. 

The new EMAG2 looking north-west at Portugal/Spain from the Atlantic. Kursk (Russia) is seen as a strong anomaly in the background. The stripes on the left of the image are magnetic lineations due to sea-floor spreading.

7
Understanding Climate Variability and Change

8 
Unified the Global Tropical Cyclone Best Track Data

In July 2009, NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) released the 

International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS) global 

tropical cyclone dataset. IBTrACS is a new dataset based on the best track 

data from numerous sources by consolidating and unifying data to one location. This dataset is the culmination of tropical cyclone best track data from 

many available sources, including the World Meteorological Organization’s officially recognized Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres and Tropical 

Cyclone Warning Centres. NCDC personnel collected, combined, and quality 

controlled the data; vetted the process through the scientific community; and 

publicly distributed the dataset. Tropical cyclone best track data are used to 

monitor the positions and intensities of tropical cyclones and include the position, maximum sustained winds, and minimum central pressure of tropical 

cyclones at six hour intervals. IBTrACS facilitates an improved understanding 

of global tropical cyclone distribution, frequency, and intensity.

Despite the significant impact of tropical cyclones on society and natural systems, there was no central repository for global best track data prior to the 

development of IBTrACS. A comprehensive archive of global tropical cyclone 

best track data was sorely needed, since such a database is utilized for a wide 

variety of projects, including climate change research, the determination of 

appropriate building codes for coastal zones, risk assessments for emergency 

managers, and analyses of potential losses for insurance and business interests.

Created a New Guide to Improve Public Climate Literacy

In March 2009, NOAA, working with several NESDIS offices and centers 

among others, issued a climate literacy guide to help individuals of all ages understand how climate influences them—and how they influence climate. A 

product of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, this guide was compiled 

by an interagency group led by NOAA. The 13-page guide includes information on how people can help reduce climate change and its impacts. It also 

defines important terms and concepts used when talking about climate and approaches to adaptation and mitigation. NOAA, the National Science Teachers 

Association, and the Technical Education Research Center, an educational nonprofit organization, are working with education leaders to revise state standards 

using this framework. The materials will also provide the basis for educator 

resources and professional development.

IBTrACS storm tracks for seasons 1947 through 2007. 

In fiscal year 2009, NOAA’s National Oceanographic Data Center completed, 

published, and made available online the “World Ocean Database 2009” 

(WOD09). This updated database contains an additional one million temperature profiles and an additional one million salinity profiles for the world 

ocean not previously available in one consistent format. WOD09 will allow 

scientists to better understand the role of the ocean as part of Earth’s climate 

system. 

9
Providing Weather and Water Information

10 
Implemented New NODC User Services and 

Communications Team

The National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) created a new NODC 

User Services and Communications Team to focus on customer service and 

outreach and to ensure a quick response to user requests. NODC increased 

the efficiency of its information services and now responds to all data and 

information requests within 48-72 hours. In addition, NODC’s goal is to 

complete more difficult data requests within one week, and they eliminated a 

back-log of requests that lingered from previous years. With our customers 

now obtaining a quick response, they know a live person is available at NODC 

to help them. These new services help more scientists and members of the 

public than ever before by allowing a timely response to requests for important ocean data and information. 

Achieved Exceptional Performance and Efficiency at 

the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station

The Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station (FCDAS) met an outstanding performance goal of 99.8 percent for data recovery during fiscal 

year 2009. FCDAS took in excess of 56,000 spacecraft communications during the calendar year 2009, a new station metric achievement, matching the 

metric the entire NASA Ground Network will achieve during 2009. This 

metric is significant, as it is approaching a 200 percent increase in spacecraft 

operations since January 1, 2003, and it was accomplished without an increase in staff or support contract modifications.

Sensors aboard environmental satellites collect massive amounts of data on 

the atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial conditions throughout the world. 

The data are stored on-board the spacecraft for a portion of an orbit and 

then transmitted down to FCDAS when the satellites pass over the station. 

FCDAS sends radio signals to the satellites to direct operation of their propulsion and sensor systems. 

Space-based navigation, 

weather, communications, reconnaissance, 

and imagery data are 

valuable to many national and international 

operations. FCDAS 

contains antennas, electronic equipment, and 

support facilities designed to provide radio 

communications with 

satellites observing the Earth. Due to its location at high latitude, FCDAS is 

well-positioned to achieve line-of-sight with polar-orbiting satellites as they 

converge on the North Polar Region.

In fiscal year 2009, work began to build a new 

20,000 square foot satellite operations facility in 

Fairbanks, Alaska. The project will replace the 

existing Command and Data Acquisition Station building, which has been in operation since 

1961. FCDAS is required to be rebuilt due to 

seismic instability issues. Estimated for completion in September 2010, the new facility will 

continue to gather information from satellites 

that NOAA uses to track weather and to better 

understand climate change. The project will ensure that NOAA’s Fairbanks satellite operations 

continue until 2026.

Dr. Virgil Sharpton, Vice-Chancellor for Research, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Jay Reich, Deputy Chief of Staff, 

DOC; Kris Sarri, Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation; Colonel Reinhard Koenig, Alaska 

District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Mary E. Kicza, Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services; Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; Lance Seman, Station 

Manager, FCDAS.

Photo courtesy of Constance Ledlow.

11 
Created a Remote Backup System to Protect 

Critical Data and Products 

In order to safeguard the vast amount of critical data and information provided through the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, 

Maryland, NESDIS created a remote backup system at our Wallops Island, 

Virginia, facility. In the event of a disaster at NSOF, this remote backup system will continue to process and distribute critical environmental satellite 

products. NESDIS personnel not only resolved the network and infrastructure issues to create this backup facility, but also ensured that the computing infrastructure was continuously synchronized with the primary facility at 

NSOF to minimize potential loss of service and product degradation resulting 

from a switchover to the backup facility. This system ensures that if a disaster 

occurs that disables NSOF, NESDIS will be able to continue to provide all 

critical products to the National Weather Service, Department of Defense, 

and other users with minimal interruption of service. This ensures the availability of continuous and timely environmental information to the Nation.

Created Two Blended Total Precipitable Water Products

When a flooding event is imminent, timely watches and warnings are essential to saving property and lives. To help users of this type of data make 

informed decisions quickly, several NESDIS offices collaborated to create two 

Blended Total Precipitable Water (TPW) products. One of the major benefits 

that the blended TPW products can provide to users is reduced analysis time, 

which leads to longer lead times for watches and warnings. Forecasters have 

limited time to synthesize all of the information they have available, in particular, when a flooding event is taking place. Thus, the blended TPW products 

are a big help, allowing them to predict the start and end of an event. The 

products are being used by NWS forecasters and satellite analysts to support 

their daily analysis and forecasting.

Focused on Space Weather Impacts on Society

During fiscal year 2009, the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) space 

weather team focused on developing tools, techniques, and models to help decision makers and the public understand the impacts of space weather on their 

systems. These new tools include improved measurements of the ionosphere 

(part of the Earth’s atmosphere) and a model of global radio wave absorption 

in the ionosphere. Improved modeling and forecasting of space weather phenomena promotes increased safety for transportation, improved reliability in 

The GOES-R Algorithm Working Group reached a key milestone by developing initial versions of the algorithms to be used to generate GOES-R data 

products. The algorithm packages will facilitate the GOES-R ground system’s ability to provide weather information to the public with enhanced 

quality, timeliness, and efficiency.

A view of the Wallops Island, Virginia, facility.

12 
satellite operations and communications, and decreased risk of space weatherinduced hazards to power companies, airlines, and satellite operators.

Created an Innovative Model that Enables 

Better Severe Weather Forecasting 

To increase our severe weather forecasting ability, NESDIS developed a new use 

for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12 (GOES-12) sounder 

data. NOAA can now forecast the onset of severe weather, such as thunderstorms 

and tornadoes, up to six hours in advance. NESDIS collaborated with scientists 

at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of 

Wisconsin, to develop and test this model. Using hourly multilevel water vapor 

observations from the GOES-12 sounder, scientists can track regions where upper level drying is occurring over low-level moistening. A rapid change in these 

measurements is often a precursor to severe weather development.

Rescued Historical Solar Drawings 

NESDIS uncovered a source of solar drawings from the Wendelstein Observatory in Austria for the period from 1946 to 1987. These drawings were 

largely forgotten but represent a key source of information regarding solar 

features (sunspots, solar flares, etc.) during the transition from ground-based 

solar observations to space-based. Through an arrangement with the University of Munich, NESDIS temporarily acquired the original drawings and 

digitally preserved them through the NOAA Climate Data Modernization 

Program. These data are now available to space scientists, climate researchers, and the public through the NOAA Data Centers. Three-hour near-cast of vertical lapse rate of available moisture, lower layer minus upper layer, valid 20 UTC, 

February 10, 2009. An EF2 tornado was reported at this time in Edmond, OK.

In fiscal year 2009, NESDIS reached three milestones in the National Polarorbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program:

● Completed the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) Mission Operations Review (MOR). The successful MOR verifies that the 

NPP mission requirements are supported by the operations 

concept, ground systems architecture, and organizational and 

staffing plans. This is a major component in demonstrating the 

probability of a successful mission.

● Completed the System Requirements Review (SRR) and Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the NPOESS Environment Monitor (SEM-N) sensor suite. SEM-N data will be vital for specifying terrestrial space weather phenomena that can adversely 

affect military and civilian systems that operate within and/or 

through space.

● Completed the SRR and Sensor System Requirements Design 

Review (SRDR) for the NPOESS Microwave Imager/Sounder 

(MIS). Data from this instrument will contribute to many datasets such as weather information, sea surface winds, atmospheric temperature and moisture, and cloud information. 

13
14 

Spotlight on Satellite

Ocean Altimetry: Reading the Waters

More than 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water that is in constant motion. Slow variations in global ocean sea level happen every year, and 

these changes can pose threats to coastal environments and increase erosion and 

flooding. In addition, the Earth’s oceans absorb and transport significant amounts 

of solar energy over great distances through currents. This ocean heat affects the 

intensity of destructive hurricanes, tropical storms, and other weather phenomena that claim lives and destroy property. More than 

146 million people worldwide, including 4 million in 

North America, live within one meter above the average high tide mark and are at risk of flooding. In 

the United States there is an estimated 2,400 miles of 

major highways and 246 miles of freight rail at risk of 

flooding and global sea level increase.

The Measurement

Satellite ocean altimetry is the measurement of sea 

level height. This extraordinarily precise measurement reveals upper level ocean heat content and 

patterns and indicates changes in the volume of water. Studying oceans is essential to understanding 

our climate because they have a major influence on 

weather. 

With this information, scientists can predict hurricane and other severe weather intensity and can 

forecast climate change. In addition, satellite ocean 

altimetry allows us to discern El Niño and La Niña cycles—cycles vitally important to short-term climate 

prediction—and detect currents, such as the Gulf 

Stream. The current information provided by ocean altimetry is detailed enough 

to show the location, width, and temperature differences in adjacent waters and 

detect and predict current eddies, temporary ocean features that can be of critical 

interest to ocean users such as drilling operators in the Gulf of Mexico. The most 

important application of these worldwide data is an accurate understanding of 

long-term climate change trends. If the Earth is indeed heating up, this satellite 

OSTM/Jason-2 map of significant wave height from July 4 to July 14, 2008. 

High precision ocean altimetry measures the distance between the satellite and the ocean surface to within a few centimeters. Sound observations 

of changes in sea surface height—also known as ocean topography—provide scientists with information about the speed and direction of ocean 

currents and heat stored in the ocean. 
15 

information will provide one of the most definitive measures of the 

Earth’s heat gain, allowing validation of climate change research work.

The Satellites

In 1992 the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite—a joint United States-French 

mission—was launched. This data record continued with the first Ja-

son satellite, Jason-1, which was launched in 2001. The current ocean 

surface topography sentinel, Jason-2, launched in 2008. The Jason-2 

mission is the first instance of research from NASA being fully transi-

tioned into NOAA operations. 

Preserving the continuity of these data is essential to accurately as-

sessing these slow but constant changes in our environment. Longterm, continuous data collection is needed for detecting annual, 

decadal, and centurial variation in climate and oceanography. Con-

tinuity will also aid in determining whether these effects are natural 

variations or the results of human interactions with the environment. 

The multi-decadal data record provided by this series of satellites has 

already helped scientists study global sea level rise and better under-

stand how ocean circulation and climate change are related. 

The Future

NOAA and its international partners have proposed launching the Ja-

son-3 satellite to continue the ocean altimetry climate data record. Ja-

son-3 is essentially a clone of the Jason-2 satellite and will allow NOAA 

to continue to monitor the upper ocean heat content and long-term 

variability in the ocean sea level. 

Jason-3 is predicted to launch in 2013 and will operate for at least five 

years. It needs at least six months of overlap with Jason-2 to allow sys-

tem calibration and validation. Re-using the Jason-2 design and spare 

components will reduce the cost of building and launching Jason-3. 

The cost will also be reduced by using the existing ground capabilities 

and through international partnerships with European agencies.

A satellite rendering of the Jason-2 satellite.

Photo courtesy of D. Ducros.
Managing Ecosystems

16 
Created and Distributed a New SeaWinds Product

NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) assembled over 20 years of 

remotely sensed data from multiple satellite-based instruments from national 

and international partners. With these data, NCDC produced a global high 

resolution sea surface wind product and distributed it worldwide to a variety of users, including the offshore energy sector, climate modelers, and the 

coastal ecosystem community. SeaWinds measurements provide information 

for several sectors of the public and research communities. SeaWinds provides wind climatologies for the Offshore Wind Energy community; is used 

by NOAA Coral Reef Watch to predict coral bleaching events; and provides 

wind stress estimates for the ocean and climate modeling communities, including the coastal ecosystem community to aid in the production of coastal 

upwelling estimates.

Developed the Southern Alaska Coastal Relief Model 

NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) developed a new integrated bathymetry and topography Coastal Relief Model (CRM) for Southern Alaska. This model shows Earth’s surface and spans the Gulf of Alaska, 

Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Alaska’s largest communities: Anchorage, 

College, Fairbanks, and Juneau. CRM allows scientists to model tsunami 

propagation and ocean circulation. In addition, CRM may be used for benthic 

habitat research, weather forecasting, and environmental stewardship.

This first CRM of Southern Alaska also marks the beginning of a series of 

revised regional CRMs for the United States, which enables much more effective modeling of meteorological and oceanic circulations, climate modeling, and hazard modeling, such as tsunami propagation, tsunami inundation, 

storm surge, and sea level rise. The vast majority of Earth’s surface is hidden 

under water. NGDC is updating the U.S. CRMs due to significant new data, 

enabling higher resolution CRMs developed on common vertical and horizontal datums. These models support coastal inundation mapping, tsunami 

propagation modeling, and habitat characterization.

The Chesapeake Bay and other chlorophyll concentration products help 

track and predict algal bloom events, monitor water quality, and direct in situ 

water sampling and fisheries sampling efforts. For example, algal blooms 

can often lower oxygen concentrations in waterways, affecting the health of 

the marine life in the area. Data from the Chesapeake Bay chlorophyll product can allow natural resource managers to discover the cause of events such 

as fish kills and to track the ebb and flow of algal blooms in the area. This 

product is used by NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, the regional partnership 

Chesapeake Bay Program, and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. 

Wind patterns, determined from NOAA satellite Climate Data Records, play an important role in Wind Energy site 

selection. 

17 
Supporting Commerce and Transportation

18 
Used Nighttime Lights Data to Estimate Gross 

Domestic Product

In 2009, NESDIS used nighttime lights data to produce the first satellite derived Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grid. GDP is key to evaluating and 

ranking the standings of economies worldwide. Traditional estimation GDP 

can be fraught with errors because of the difficulty in collecting the basic data, 

exchange rates, and other issues. Since there is a connection between wealth 

and the quantity of installed lighting, NESDIS used historical GDP estimates 

and nighttime lights data to validate this new method of GDP estimation. 

The nighttime lights GDP grid reveals the variations in economic activity at a 

finer resolution than the national and state level GDP reporting. The grid can 

be viewed as a map of purchasing power. The nighttime lights GDP grid can 

be combined with other global data to define the location and size of markets 

and gaps in the placement of specific commercial services. This product has 

already been used by constituents such as telecommunication companies to 

optimize the placement of cellular communications.

Supported Safe Navigation through Enhancing the 

Marine Transportation System

NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) has primary archive and 

data stewardship responsibility for NOAA’s Marine Transportation System 

(MTS) program. NGDC’s primary mission for the MTS program is to increase the volume of hydrographic survey data ingested and placed in the archive and the volume of data and information delivered online annually by 10 

percent. Due to significant increases in both the number and volume of surveys, NGDC surpassed 

this milestone by more 

than doubling the archive in the last two 

years. Over 34 terabytes of new National 

Ocean Service (NOS) 

survey data were collected, processed, archived, and made available online in the first 

three quarters of 2009.

Every five years, NESDIS regenerates the World Magnetic Model (WMM) 

based on a compilation of global magnetic observations, from land, sea, 

and satellite. NESDIS is currently constructing the latest WMM version, to 

be distributed in 2010. The high-resolution EMAG2 map complements the 

WMM by quantifying regional magnetic disturbances caused by localized 

concentrations of magnetic minerals in the Earth’s crust. This information 

is important for applications with high accuracy requirements such as oil 

exploration. 

Nighttime Lights imagery of China. This color composite of lights is from three years: 2008 in red, 2000 in green, 

and 1992 in blue. Shifts in color towards red indicate growth, shifts toward blue indicate decline.

In FY 2009, NESDIS completed phase one of 

the North American Ice Services (NAIS) Common Production System Implementation Plan. 

NAIS will improve information exchange and 

enhance coordination between the National Ice 

Center and Canadian Ice Services. The integration of both centers’ expertise and capabilities 

offer improvements and efficiencies in providing ice information for North America. This plan 

will help the North American maritime community and other organizations reduce risks to life, 

property, and the environment due to ice-related accidents. 

19 
Interview: Gary Davis,

Director of the Office of

Systems Development

Where did you grow up? And where did you go to school? 

I grew up in New York City, moved to Maryland when I was about 12, and went 

to the University of Maryland. 

How did you get started at NOAA/NESDIS?

After graduating from Maryland, I went to a career day to find out how I could 

work for NASA. There was a booth set up by NOAA with information about a 

graduate sciences program where they were willing to take you in, pay you, and 

send you back to school. It was quite a deal. 

The first year of the program, I went to school, got a full-time salary, and got a 

degree in aerospace engineering; NESDIS was looking for somebody to start to 

work with satellites. I was hired by Dave Johnson and started right when we 

launched the first Synchronous Meteorological Satellites (SMS) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES).

What is your position now, and how did you get there?

Right now I am the Director of the Office of Systems Development. When I started at NESDIS, I was the lead of the engineering branch working on the GOES 

spacecraft. Then we brought in the first polar satellites in the mid-1970s, and so 

I started working on the polar satellites. I had the great advantage of knowing 

how the satellites work and how they are built because I got a lot of training by 

going to the satellite vendors. I also had a chance to spend a lot of time at the 

Wallops, Virginia, and Fairbanks, Alaska, facilities. 

Next, I became the Manager of the Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC) 

and then Director of the Office of Satellite Operations. When John Hussey left 

the Office of Systems Development (OSD), they asked me to run both offices; I 

ran operations and development in both offices for about three years and then 

finally settled in at OSD.

How far has NESDIS come since your first GOES launch to the recent 

GOES-14 launch?

In the geostationary world, NESDIS has come quite far. We used to fly spinning 

GOES satellites, which were the first GOES all the way through GOES-7. Then we 

changed to a body stabilized satellite. Spinning satellites were like tops and saw 

the Earth for about 23 degrees. The rest of the time these satellites looked at 

space. The body stabilized satellites look at the Earth full time, so we are able to 

get many more images more quickly. This enabled us to work with the National 

Weather Service to reduce hurricane and tornado warning times. 

Gary Davis shown here with former NOAA Satellite and Information Service Assistant Administrator David Johnson.

20 
What is it about NESDIS that has enticed you to stay for over 30 years?

In NESDIS, you are like a big fish in a small sea. NESDIS is a small operation, and 

you personally can make a difference, you can make changes, you can influence 

policy. If you go to a bigger organization like NASA, there are a lot more people 

and much more bureaucracy, so it is much harder to make a change that you 

think would benefit the agency. Here, you have much more access to the Under 

Secretary of NOAA, and you can express your opinions. NOAA also has a lot of 

senior retreats where people get together and talk about what they are doing. 

At NESDIS I feel like I can talk to the NOAA leadership, and that is really why I 

stayed here.

What are your two most memorable experiences since you’ve been 

with NOAA?

First, I guess the GOES-G launch, which was kind of the worst experience I ever 

had. I watched the satellite go up, saw it veer off course, and heard somebody 

say, “This isn’t right.” The next thing I heard was a big noise because Range Safety 

blew up our spacecraft that we worked very, very hard on. That moment will 

always stick in my mind. 

Second, the other launches that I’ve been to—and I’ve been to probably 25 or 

30—were just wonderful. There is nothing like seeing your work come to fruition. You watch that rocket go up into space in a beautiful orbit and end up with 

a good satellite. 

What advice do you have for the future of NESDIS satellites?

Keep focused, understand your requirements, make sure you build what your 

users need, and try to get rid of stuff that you don’t need—which is very, very 

hard to do. But we have to keep replacing, and we have to keep moving forward, 

but we also have to understand that we are the organization for continuity of 

satellite operations and products. We can’t afford a failure, and we can’t afford 

an outage. We need to keep continuity going, and that’s what NESDIS I think is 

the most famous for. We do one heck of a job just making sure we always have 

what’s needed in orbit.

What are going to be NESDIS’s biggest challenges in the next five to 

ten years?

Climate science and how we react if NOAA creates a climate service. Also, continuity of and funding for programs like Jason [altimetry satellite] and QuikSCAT 

[scatterometry satellite] will be significant. As we 

try to expand to meet the ever changing demands 

of our user community, we have to figure out how 

to get funds above and beyond what we’re doing 

today. We need to grow.

What is your favorite pastime outside of work?

For about 30 years, I’ve coached baseball. About 

two years ago, I stopped because work got pretty complicated. But that’s been my pastime, and 

that’s probably where I’ll go when I retire. 

Any last words?

It’s been fun. I mean I’ve been here 32 years, and 

every year I enjoy coming to work. I also enjoy 

now being in the position to retire anytime I want. 

It gives you a whole new look at life when you’re 

working. But right now, the NESDIS management 

is so good, our projects are so good, and we’re 

doing so many things that I believe will make the 

difference and will leave the planet better for our 

kids. I want to hang around and do them. 

Gary Davis at an American Meteorology Society event, with Mary Kicza, Assistant Administrator for Satellite and 

Information Services (middle), and Abigail Harper, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Systems (right).

21
GOLD MEDALS

Leadership 

Albert E. Theberge, Jr. (NESDIS)

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Nomination

For the design, development, and opening with the Smithsonian Institution of 

the Sant Ocean Hall, the national exhibition on the global ocean.

Scientific/Engineering Achievement 

Changyong Cao (ORA)

NESDIS Nomination

For leadership in developing and implementing an international framework for 

generating high-quality satellite data for climate monitoring. 

SILVER MEDALS

Scientific/Engineering Achievement

Mark Eakin (ORA)

NESDIS Nomination

For providing timely ocean information and capacity for improved global monitoring and management of coral reef ecosystems relative to climate change.

Angelo G. Wade (OSD), J. Philip Green (OSD), Walid J. Bannoura (OSD), 

Linda Stathoplos (OSO), John L. Lillibridge III (ORA), Kim McCarty (OSO), 

Larry Ledlow (OSO), Brian Hill (OSO)

NESDIS Nomination

For designing and implementing a U.S. ground system for Europe’s Jason-2 

satellite to support worldwide weather forecasting and climate monitoring. 

ADMINISTRATOR’S AWARDS

Chris Wheeler (OSO)

For outstanding technical leadership in managing the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite on-orbit constellation. 

Pablo Clemente-Colón (ORA), Jeffrey Key (ORA)

For scientific leadership and excellence in support of domestic and international polar observing activities during the International Polar Year. 

Yong Han (ORA), Fuzhong Weng (ORA)

For improving the accuracy of weather forecasts by developing new and powerful radiative transfer models and techniques to assimilate advanced satellite data.

Awards

22 
 

 

 

15 
NOAA Satellite and Information Service | U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ABADIA, ANTONIO 

ABNEY, DIANA ABNEY, STANLEY ABREU, MICHAEL ADAMS, MARY ADKINS JR, ANDREW ALI, AISHA ALLEGRA, 

ANDREW ALLEN, DONALD ALVI, KHALID AMBURGEY, KEITH ANDERS, DAWN ANDERSON, DAVID ANDERSON, DONNA ANDERSON, GLORIA ANDERSON, MICHAEL ANGEL, WILLIAM ANSARI, STEVEN ANZELC, JIMI APPERSON, CHARLENE APPLEQUIST, SCOTT ARGUEZ, ANTHONY ARNDT, DEREK 

ARNFIELD, JEFFREY ATKINS, STEVEN AUNE, ROBERT AUSTIN, CAROL AVERSANO, GLORIA BAJPAI, SHYAM BAKER, CHARLES 

BAKER, EDWARD BALDWIN, RICHARD BALDWIN, THOMAS BALLOU, JAMES BANAS, JOSEPH BANNOURA, WALID BANZON, PATRIA VIVA 

BARANOVA, OLGA BARNET, CHRISTOPHER BARNETTE, ALVA BARRIENTOS, CELSO BATES, JOHN BAUER, BRUCE BAYLER, ERIC BEARD, RUSSELL 

BEAVIN, MICHAEL BECK, CALVIN BECKER, THOMAS BELFIELD, KATHY BELLAMY, PHYLLIS BELLAMY, TONI BELOTE, PATRICK BELTER, CHRISTOPHER 

BENNER, DAVID BERBERICH, KEVIN BERRY, EUGENE BERRY, PAULA BLACKWELL JR, FREEMAN BLOEDEL, BRIAN BLOOM, HAL BOSCH, JULIE BOTLUK, LISA 

BOUKABARA, SID BOWMAN, DAVID BOYD, KANDIS BOYD, THOMAS BOYER, TIMOTHY BRADY, JAMES BRANCH, TIMOTHY BRANDON, TESS BRAUER, DOUGLAS 

BRAUN, DEBRA BREGER, CAROL BREWER, MICHAEL BRIDGETT, DARBIE BRIELE, MARK BRINEGAR, DANNY BRINKER, RANDAL BRISCOE, ROBERT BROOKS, BARBARA BROOKS, 

DONNISE BROOKS, TODD BROWN, BRIAN BROWN, CHRISTOPHER BROWN, DOROTHY BROWN, JANET BROWN-JENKINS, ROXIE BROWN JR, DANIEL BROWN, LINDA BROWN, 

WILLIAM BRUEGMAN, OTTO BRUNSON, ALBERTA BRUST JR, JOSEPH BRYANT, CHARLES BRYANT, JERRY BRYANT, JULIE BUCKNER, CHARLES BURKHART, WILLIAM BURLEW JR, THEODORE BURRESS, ROBIN BURRIS, MARY BURROUGHS, JONATHAN BYSAL, HYRE CALDWELL, PATRICK CAMBARDELLA, LOUIS CAMPAGNOLI, JOHN CAO, CHANGYONG CAPPS HILL, SHARON 

CAREY, THOMAS CARPENTER, JAN CARPINO, CHRISTINE CARR, LARRY CARR, LILA CARROLL, DONALD CARTER, EMILY CARTER, LILLIAN CARTER, PRESTON CARTER, WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT, 

JOHN CASEY, KENNETH CATALAN, JOSEPH CHALFANT, MICHAEL CHAMBERLAIN, KIMBERLY CHANG, CHOL CHANG, PAUL CHAPMAN, LAURA CHARNOCK JR, DOUGLAS CHEN, SAM CHERRIX, 

HOMER CHERRY, TROY CHIEDI, ROSA CHOE, JAE CHOLID, LUKMAN CLAPP, JENNIFER CLARK, CRAIG CLARK JR, JOHNNY CLARK, NATHAN CLEMENTE COLON, PABLO CLEVENSTINE, SETH COHEE, 

DONNA COLEMAN, BERRY COLEMAN, CARLA COLEY, RICHARD COLLER, JUANITA COLLEY, SHARON COLLINS, DONALD COLLINS, KAY COLLINS, RONALD COLOHAN, PETER COMEYNE III, GUSTAVE CONNOR, LAURENCE COREN, THERESSA COUTURE, JUSTIN CRAIG, ARLENE CRAIG, CONSTANCE CRAWFORD, VAN CRENSHAW, ANGELA CRISON, MICHAEL CROCKETT, DENNIS CROSS, SCOTT CROUCH, JUSTIN 

CSISZAR, IVAN CUBANO, RUBY CUMBERPATCH, MARY CUMBIE, BRENDA CUSTIS, JOHN D AGUANNO, JANE DAHLBERG JR, HARRY DAILEY, KEVIN DALAL, MANAN DANIELS, DAWN DANIELS, JAIME D ANTONIO, 

CAROLYN DAVIS, CHARLES DAVIS, GARY DAVIS, JOHN DAVIS JR, VAUGHN DEFRANCESCO, NANCY DELGRECO, STEPHEN DEMARIA, MARK DENIG, WILLIAM DENIS, CHANTALE DEVINE, SUSAN DIAMOND, HOWARD 

DIEDRICH, BENJAMIN DIGIACOMO, PAUL DING, HANJUN DIXON, LAKESHIA DOHERTY, KENNETH DONAHUE, DAVID DORFLER, JOSEPH DORFLER, KRISTIN DORSEY, JEROME DORSEY, WARREN DOUGLAS, EVE DOWNES, 

MICHAEL DRAHOS JR, HENRY DRUMM, AMBER DUNBAR, PAULA DUNSTON, PATRICK DURAN, MICHAEL DURRE, IMKE DWIVEDI, PARMESH DYSON, RUSSELL EAKIN, CARLON EASTERLING, DAVID EAST, TINA EBERTS, 

DENNIS EDDY, DAVID EDINGTON, SUE EGGLESTON, MARGARET ELLISON, LEON ELSWICK, STANLEY ELVIDGE, CHRISTOPHER ERTLE, MARCUS ERWIN, EDWARD ESHAM, TERRI EVANS, ROBIN EWELL, ELIZABETH FAUERBACH, 

JOHN FAUNCE, LISA FENNO, CHARLES FENWICK, CHRISTINE FERGUSON, ANGELA FERRARO JR, RALPH FINCHER, KATHERINE FINSON, ROBERT FIOLEK, ANNA FISCHMAN, DAVID FITCH, JEAN FITZMAURICE JR, MICHAEL FLANAGAN, DANIEL FLEEMAN, ROBERT FLEMING, STEPHEN FLERLAGE, KAREN FLYNN, LAWRENCE FORD, TERRI FOREMAN, BERNADETTE FOREST, ELLIOT FOX, CHRISTOPHER FRANC, DAVID FRANKLIN, DEBORAH FRANKS, PHALA 

FREDERICK, HELEN FROSTROM, GREGG ULTON, RICHARD FURGERSON, JOHN FURLONG, DAVID GALEONE, MICHAEL GALLINA, GREGORY GALLO, KEVIN GARCIA, HERNAN GERWIG, RYANN GEVORGYAN, YANA GILBERTO, VICENTE 

GLANCE, JR., WALTER GLASER, MARY GLEASON, BYRON GLEASON, KARIN GLINIAK, CARL GOHRBAND, HILDA GOLDBERG, MICHAEL GOLDBERG, MITCHELL GOLDSMITH, DAVID GOLDSTEIN, ZACHARY GOODMAN, STEVEN GOODRUM, 

GEOFFREY GOSS, LYNN GOUDOUROS, JAMES GRAHAM, TYNA GRANO, VINCENT GRAUMANN, AXEL GRAY, DONALD GREEN, JOSEPH GREGG, MARGARITA GREGORY, PATRICK GRIFFIN, TRINA GRIFFIN, VANESSA GRIFFITH, STEVEN 

GRIMM, PETER GRIPPANDO, STEVEN GRISHAM III, BYRON GROSS, WENDY GRUNIN, JASON GUCH, INGRID GURKA, JAMES GUTIERREZ, JOSE HABERMANN, RAY HAKKARINEN, IDA HALL, ALAN HALL, MARK HALL, NORMAN HAMBLIN, 

EDWARD HAMILTON, LAURA HAMILTON, MELANIE HAMMER, GREGORY HAMMOND, ANDRE HAMPTON, CYNTHIA HAMPTON, KARL HAN, DONG HAN, JING HANNA, JAY HAN, YONG HARDING, TODD HARPER, ABIGAIL HASENAUER, 

DAVID HASTINGS, DAVID HAUGHEY, JAMES HAUSMAN, SCOTT HAY, BRENNAN HAYES, KESHA HAY, HEATHER HAYWOOD, KENNETH HEIDINGER, ANDREW HEILMEIER, LISA HEIM JR, RICHARD HELFRICH, SEAN HENSLEY, GRACE HERMRECK, 

DAVID HERNDON, RHONDA HERRIN, TAMMIE HEYMANN, ROGER HEYSE, CHRISTINA HILL, BRIAN HILL, ERIC HILLGER, DONALD HILL, SHERIDAN HINSON, CONRAD HIRSCHFELD, OLIVER HOFF, LOUIE HOLLAND, CURTIS HORAN, KAREN 

HORTON, TRIVITA HOSSEINI, SEYED HOUSTON, TAMARA HOWARD, STEPHEN HOWARD, TIMOTHY HUDSPETH, PAUL HUFF, PATRICIA HUGHES, BRIAN HUGHES, KENT HUGHES, PAMELA HUMPHRIES ROBINSON, BRENDA HURCOMBE, STACEY 

HURST, KIMBERLY HURT, LISA HUTCHINGS, TOBY HYATT, GLENN IGNATOV, ALEXANDER INGRAM, CHERYL IRVING, ANTONIO JACKSON, CONRAD JACKSON, NINA JACOBS, RUSSELL JAMES, GREGORY JAMES, LAWRENCE JAMES, RICHARD JAMIL, 

IFTIKHAR JANOSKI, STEPHEN JENSEN, JOHN JENSEN, MICHAEL JOCHUM, MATTHEW JOHNSON, CHERISH JOHNSON, CHERYL JOHNSON, DAPHNE JOHNSON, DENNIS JOHNSON, GREGORY JOHNSON, LATONYA JOHNSON, PHILLIP JOHNSON, 

ROMONTE JOHNSON, THADDEUS JOHNSON, THELMA JONES, QUEEN JUNGBLUTH, GEORGE KADIN, CHARLES KALB, MICHAEL KALLURI, SATYA KARL, CYNTHIA KARLSON, DANIEL KARL, THOMAS KASKE, NEAL KATZ, MARIAN KAZIOR, MARILENE 

KEARNS, EDWARD KELLY, KATHLEEN KEY, JEFFREY KIBLER, JAMIE KICZA, MARY KIHN, ERIC KILCOYNE, HEATHER KIM, DONGSOO KIM, JASON KING, BEVERLY KINSFATHER, JOHN KIRKNER, STEVEN KLEESPIES, THOMAS KLEIN, JOSEPH KLISCHER, 

MARY KNAFF, JOHN KNAPP, KENNETH KNISKERN, KRISTIN KOBAR, JOHN KOENIG, CHAD KOGAN, FELIX KONDRAGUNTA, CHANDRA KONDRAGUNTA, SHOBHA KOSSIN, JAMES KOWAL, DANIEL KRAFT, JOSEPH KROB, JEFFREY KUHN, ANGELA 

KUHN, JOHN KULIGOWSKI, ROBERT KUSSELSON, SHELDON LACKEY, DENNIS LANG, JOHANNA LA ROCQUE, JOHN LARSEN, MARIA LASHER, BLAKE LASZLO, ISTVAN LAWRENCE, REGINALD LAWRIMORE, JAY LAWSON JR, ALEX LAYNS, ARRON 

LEARY, TIMOTHY LEDLOW JR, LARRY LEDUC, SHARON LEFLER, DONNA LEGECKIS, RICHARD LEULIETTE, ERIC LEVINSON, DAVID LEVINSON, KEITH LEVITUS, SYDNEY LEWIS, JAMES LIANG, KIRK LIEF, CHRISTINA LILLIBRIDGE III, JOHN LINDSEY, 

DANIEL LINVILL, GEORGE LITTLE, BRIAN LI, XIAOFAN LOBLEIN, BRENDA LOBLEIN, ROSS LOGAN, JEFFERY LOGAN, KELLY LOTT IV, JACK LOVE BROTAK, SUSAN LOVING, JOHN LUDLUM, KEVIN MACFARLAND, CHARLES MACNEILL, BARBARA 

MADSEN, ERIC MAHMOT, RONALD MAHONEY, PATRICIA MAILHOT, DENNIS MAIZEL, LESLIE MAK, CHRISTINA MA, LIQUN MANDT, GREGORY MANI, JOSEPH MANNS, DANIEL MARCHANT, DEBRA MARKEL, ANNE MARKS, KAREN MARTIN JR, JAMES 

MASON, BROOKS MASTIN, DEANA MATHEWS, KARON MATURI, EILEEN MAYBIN, BILLIE MAYO, PATTY MAZUR, WILFRED MCADOO, DAVID MCBRIEN, GARY MCCARTY, KIMBERLY MCCOWN, MILTON MCCULLOUGH, HEATHER MCDONALD, KENNETH 

MCELREATH, DOUGLAS MCGAHEE, ALVIN MCGILL, JOLENE MCGINNIS, DAVID MCGUIRK, MARJORIE MCINTOSH JR, VERNON MCKENZIE, KEITH MCKINLEY, ALITA MCLEAN, SUSAN MCMATH JR, ALBERT MCNAMARA, DONNA MCNEAL, KELLY 

MCQUILKIN, ROBERTA MEDINA, MARTIN MEHTA, AJAY MENG, HAUN MENNE, MATTHEW MENTZER, JAMES MENZER, FRANK MERCKLE, NANCY MESICK, SHARON METCALF, LAURA METZGER, DAN MICHAEL, ANGELA MIGNOGNO, MICHAEL 

MILANO SCHOSER, SUZETTE MILLER, EDWARD MILLER, ERIC MILLER, KAREN MILLER, LAURENCE MILLS, BARRY MITCHELL, GARY MOHLER, LARRY MOLENAR, DEBRA MOODIE, LINDA MOORE, CARLA MOORE, DANIEL MOORE, JEANNETTE 

MOORE, JOHN MOORE, KELVIN MORAN, JOHN MORGAN, BEVERLY MORRIS, JAMES MO, TSAN MOWERY, SCOTT MULHOLLAND, MARK MULLER, DANIEL MULLIGAN, JOSEPH MULLIGAN, PATRICIA MUNDY, GREGORY MURPHY, MARILYN 

MURPHY, WILLIAM MURRAY, DERRICK MURRAY, REGINA MUSSMANN, JAMES NAGAN, ROBERT NAUMAN, SELINA NAVE, CHERYL NEELY, LINDA NELSON, BRIAN NELSON, RYAN NERO, TERESA NEWLIN, MICHELE NEWLON, CARL NGUYEN, 

VIHA NICHOLS, CATHERINE NIKLEWSKI, DAVID NOCK, WILLIAM NORRIS, TEELA NORTHROP, CLINTON NUNN, BRADLEE NYE, KIMBERLY O CHERY, MARY OCONNORS, CHRISTOPHER O DELL, MICHAEL OGATA, ERIC OLSON, JON ONDRUSEK, 

MICHAEL OWEN, KAREN OWEN, TIMOTHY PAGEL, BONITA PALECKI, MICHAEL PALUBA, RHONDA PAQUETTE, JOHN PARENT, GREGG PARHAM, ANTOINETTE PARIS, CECIL PARKER, JAMES PARK, FREUD PARKS, MARGARET PARSONS, 

ARTHUR PATTERSON II, SAMUEL PAVER, CHRISTOPHER PAVOLONIS, MICHAEL PAYNE, ERNEST PEARSALL, HERALD PECK, VICKI PEGNATO, PAUL PEJSA, JESSICA PENN, RONALD PEREIRA, JOHN PEREZ, JOSEPH PERKINS, MARLIN PERLROTH, 

JOEL PETERS, JOYCE PETERSON, THOMAS PETTIS, ROSEMARY PHILLIPS, ANGELA PHILLIPS, JOHN PHILLIPS, SHERI PICHEL, WILLIAM PIERCE, ROBERT PIKULA, LINDA PITTMAN, KAROL PLOTT, BRUCE PORCH, MICHAEL POWELL, ALFRED 

POZNIAK, ALEXANDER PRENDERGAST, KELLY PRESSLEY, VIRGINIA PRIVETTE, JEFFREY PRYOR, KENNETH QI, HONGMING QUILLEN, STEVEN RADEMACHER, RONALD RAMSAY, BRUCE RANDALL, TRACEY RANK, ROBERT RAY III, HENRY 

RAY, JAMES RAY, RONALD REALE, ANTHONY REDMON, ROBERT REEDY, GEORGE REEVES, LETECIA REICH, JESSE REID, TINA RELPH, JOHN RENKEVENS, THOMAS REVELL, ALAN REYNOLDS, RICHARD REYNOLDS, THOMAS RICHARDSON, RASHELLE RICH, SHARON RIDDLE, DEBORAH RIEFLER, GEORGE RIGGIN, BARRY RIPLEY, MARGARET RITCHEY, NANCY RIVERA, CARMELO RIVERA, DEBORA RIVERS, ANN ROBEL, JEFFREY ROBERTS, THOMAS ROBINSON, 

ALAN ROBINSON, ANGEL ROBINSON, BRITTANY ROBINSON, DIANE ROBLIN, ROBERT ROBY, DONALD ROCHESTER, JENNIFER ROGERS, CAROL ROKKE, LAURIE ROSARIO, JOSE ROSS, DOUGLAS ROSS, THOMAS ROSS, WARREN 

ROYSTON, JOE RUBIO, LINDA RUMINSKI, MARK RUTLEDGE, GLENN RUTZ, STEVEN RYAN, THOMAS SALAZAR, JOSEPH SALEMI, ANTHONY SALYERS, LINDA SANCHEZ-LUGO, AHIRA SANCHEZ, PATRICIA SANNS, JOHN SAPPER, 

JOHN SAUNDERS, LEESHA SAWYER, KERRY SAZAMA, CHARLOTTE SCHAEFFER, STEPHEN SCHAFFER, STEVEN SCHAFFERT, KAREN SCHEIN JR, GUY SCHELLER, BONNIE SCHENCK GARDNER, ELIZABETH SCHLEICHER JR, 

WALTER SCHMIDT, KENNETH SCHMIT, TIMOTHY SCHOTT, THOMAS SCHREITZ, RICHARD SCHWARTZ, ALAN SCOTT, TAMMY SEIDERMAN, MARK SEMAN, LANCE SEMUNEGUS, HILAWE SERAFINO, GEORGE SESSING, JANICE 

SETTLES, MICHAEL SEYBOLD, MATTHEW SEYMOUR, PAUL SHAFFER, JOYCE SHARKEY, HUGH SHARMA, AWDHESH SHARMAN III, GEORGE SHEA, EILEEN SHEFFLER, DUSTIN SHEIN, KARSTEN SHERIDAN, JAMES SHI, 

LEI SHIRLEY, JOSEPH SHRESTHA, MAHENDRA SILVA, HERNAN SIMKO, JOHN SIMPSON, NAAMAN SINCLAIR JR, GEORGE SINNOK, RALPH SLACK, DONNIE SLAY, MARY SLEEPER, MARK SLUSSER, CONSTANCE 

SMILEK, RONALD SMITH, ADAM SMITH, ALISA SMITH, DAVID SMITH, DAVID SMITH, DAVID SMITH DEARRING, RHAPSODY SMITH, ELIZABETH SMITH, JONATHAN SMITH JR, THOMAS SMITH, LAKEL SMITH, 

RICHARD SMITH, THOMAS SMITH, WALTER SMOLYAR, IGOR SMYLY, MARSHALL SNEAD JR, ROBERT SNELL, THOMAS SOLOMON, NICOLE SPEIDEL, JESSE SPENCER JR, ALBERT SPENCER, TERESSA SQUIRES, 

MICHAEL STANCZYK, STANLEY STANSBURY, ANGELA STARKE, SUSAN STATHOPLOS, LINDA STATLER, LINDA STENGEL, ERIC STEPHENS, SCOTT STEURER, PETER STEVENS, ADELE ST GERMAIN, KAREN 

STINUS, JOSEPH STOCKTON, DANIEL STRAND, JESSE STREETT, DAVIDA STROKER, KELLY SULLIVAN, MATTHEW SUMMERS, ROBERT SUN, LEANGCHWAN SURRETT, NIKONDA SWANSON, GRACE 

SYLVESTER, DENISE SYMONDS, JASON TABOR, EDWARD TAI, CHANG KOU TANNER, MICHAEL TARVER, KENDRA TAYLOR, LISA TAYLOR, PAMELA TERRY, GENE TERRY, ROE TESSIER, MARGARET 

THEBERGE JR, ALBERT THOMAS, ADRIENNE THOMAS, JOHN THOMASON JR, CHARLES THORNTON, JOSEPH TIELKING, TERRANCE TIGNOR, CLARENCE TILLMAN, ARLA TODIRITA, MONICA 

TOMLINSON, MICHAEL TRUITT, NORWOOD TSUI, YO KUNG TUCKER, JAUVONNE TURK, MICHAEL TURNER, KEVIN TWITTY, ANTHONY UNDERHILL, ERIC URBANSKI, DAVID URZEN, 

MICHAEL VALENTI, JAMES VALENZUELA, MANUEL VARGAS, MARCO VEASEY, SARA VINCENT, KATY VIZBULIS, FREDERICK VOSE, RUSSELL VOSS, BRIAN VOYLES, JOYCE VYAS, 

SUDHIR WADE, ANGELO WADE, CRAIG WADE, GARY WAHL, EUGENE WALKER, LEESALEE WALLACE, CAROL WALLACE, STEVEN WALLING, BRIAN WALL, JANET WALSH, 

TIMOTHY WALTERS, STEPHEN WANG, MENGHUA WARD, DARLENE WARDRETT, ANDREW WARD, RODNEY WARNICK, BARBARA WARNKEN, ROBIN WARREN, CHRISTOPHER WARREN, DANETTE WARREN, DONNA WARREN, MICHAEL WARRINGTON, EUNICE WEIR, PATRICIA WELDON, ROGER WENG, FUZHONG WESTON, 

KAY WHALEY, PHILIP WHEELER, CHRISTOPHER WHITEHURST, HILERY T J WHITE IV, JOSEPH WHITELEY, HARRY WHITE, SANDRA WILCZYNSKI, PETER 

WILKINS, BRENDA WILKINSON, CHARIS WILKINSON, DANIEL WILLIAMS, ALEXANDER WILLIAMS JR, CLAUDE WILLIAMS, KEVIN WILLIAMS, LINDA 

WILLIAMS, LINDSEY WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, TYRONE WILMESHERR, MARK WILMOT, WAYNE WILSON, WILLIAM WOLDU, 

VERNELL WOLF, WALTER WOMACK, WINIFRED WOOD, HELEN WOODS, LENORA WOOLDRIDGE, CHARLES WORMAN, RUSSELL WRIGHT, VICKIE WRUBLEWSKI, THOMAS WUERTZ, DAVID WU, XIANGQIAN WU, ZHONG YAPUR, MARTIN 

YOE, JAMES YOUNG, SHAROLYN YUAN, MARGARIDA YU, YUNYUE ZEGALIA, STEVEN ZEHR, DAVID 

ZEIGLER, CYNTHIA ZEILER, TRACY ZEKRI, MEHDI ZHANG, HUAI MIN ZHAN, XIWU 

ZHAO, LIMIN ZHAO, XUEPENG ZHOU, LIHANG ZOU, CHENG ZHI