Identification of Technical Skills

In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 414




MEMORANDUM

                                                    March 11, 1996

To:       Chief Hydrologist

From:     Verne R. Schneider
          Chairman, Technical Training Committee

Subject:  Identification of Technical Skills

During its annual meeting the Technical Training Committee formed two
Training Strategy Teams to evaluate all aspects of the training process.
One of the recommendations adopted is to put process in place to determine
long-term technical skills required to meet changing program emphasis and
associated training needs.  In an effort to obtain the information required
to begin the process of developing new courses in time to meet future Water
Resources Division (WRD) needs, we recommend that a group composed of the
four Regional Program Officers (with Western Region as the Chair), one
representative from each Discipline Office, and four members of the Science
Advisory Committee (two from the National Research Program and two from the
field) be established.

This committee would be charged with assessing external influences that
could provide technical program opportunities for the Division and the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS).  These influences may include the potential
impact of changing program thrusts of other Federal agencies, State and
local cooperators, political directions, and projected scientific
breakthroughs.  The committee should synthesize that information in view of
the USGS long-range technical program objectives and make recommendations
to the WRD Human Resources Management Committee concerning the technical
expertise that will be required of USGS employees 5 to 10 years in the
future.  Implementation of appropriate training efforts to meet these
challenges would then become the responsibility of the standing Technical
Training Committee.  The results of these endeavors will be invaluable in
keeping the USGS on the cutting edge of science.
Chief Hydrologist                                               2