NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WESTERN REGION HEADQUARTERS

The National Weather Service (NWS) mission is to provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warning, and impact-based decision support services, for the protection of life and property, and the enhancement of the national economy.  The NWS Western Region executes this mission across much of the contiguous United States west of the Continental Divide.  This includes Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and California.  This large area contains major metropolitan centers, significant public land, many Tribal Nations, and large rural, sparsely-populated areas.  The NWS Western Region offers a vast array of meteorological, hydrological, and climatological challenges.  Providing forecast and warning services for wildfire activity, heavy rain, extreme drought and significant winter storms are just a few of these challenges.  In addition, the NWS Western Region provides forecast and warning services to mariners that operate in the Pacific Ocean, close to the entirety of the U.S. West Coast.

The NWS Western Region has an outstanding team of nearly 650 field employees in 24 weather forecast offices; three river forecast centers; four Center Weather Service Units; and Western Region Headquarters.  The Western Region Headquarters located in Salt Lake City, UT, provides administrative and operational support to its field offices and manages the Region's service programs, facilities, equipment, IT systems, scientific enhancements, staffing, and  budget planning and execution.. Regional headquarters staff oversees technological developments and implementations as well as providing operational oversight through its Regional Operations Center. Program management for meteorological, hydrological, climatological, and tsunami activities are supported and managed by regional headquarters personnel.  Western Region personnel provide support in recruitment, promotion, EEO/Diversity and employee development. Leading the effort to ensure the security of the Region’s IT systems, and the availability and maintenance of observing systems and facilities, are also  responsibilities of regional headquarters personnel. Quality control of all field services and operational prioritizing and evaluation of field needs is an integral part of the Western Region Headquarters responsibilities.

Dr. Grant Cooper is the NWS Western Region Regional Director.  The NWS Western Region Headquarters is comprised of the following Divisions:

• Administrative Management Division - Maxxwell Starks, Division Chief

• Integrated Serviced Division - Leslie Waite, Division Chief

• Science and Technology Infusion Division - Michael Staudenmaier, Division Chief

• Systems and Facilities Division - Sean Wink, Division Chief