Temporary Leadership Assignments in the Proposed Office of Information

To: ts@qvarsx.er.usgs.gov, win@qvarsx.er.usgs.gov, win1@qvarsx.er.usgs.gov,
        "Richard S Vraga, Chief, CAPP, Madison, WI" <rsvraga>
cc: "A  - Division Chief and Staff"<distribution>,
        "  WRD Archive File, Reston, VA" <wrd-archive>
Subject: Temporary Leadership Assignments in the Proposed Office of 
 Information
From: "Robert M Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, Reston, VA" <rhirsch>
Date: Mon, 06 Oct 1997 17:05:48 -0400
Sender: "Dorothy M Woods, Secretary (AO), Reston, VA" <dmwoods>

In Reply To:  
Mail Stop 440


						October 6, 1997

				MEMORANDUM


To:		Office of Water Information Staff
		Office of Technical Support Staff

From:		Robert M. Hirsch (signed)
		Chief Hydrologist

Subject:	Temporary Leadership Assignments in the Proposed Office
		of Information

The report attached to my September 23, 1997, memorandum entitled 
"Restructuring of Information Functions within the Water Resources 
Division Headquarters Offices" identified nine proposed organizational 
units within the new Office of Information.  In Section 7 of that report, 
we indicated our intent to identify individuals who would serve 
temporarily in an acting capacity as the supervisors and leaders of those 
units.  Until these supervisory positions are classified and decisions 
are made as to how to fill them on a permanent basis, I have asked our 
Branch of Human Resources Management Support to process personnel actions 
to detail the following individuals into these key leadership assignments:

	·	Web - Ken Lanfear

	·	Information Delivery - Gail Wendt

	·	Reports - Celso Puente

	·	Distributed Information System (DIS) - Gloria Stiltner

	·	Hydrologic Analysis Support System (HASS) - Alan Lumb

	·	National Water Information System (NWIS) - John Briggs

	·	Coordination - Nancy Lopez

	·	International - Anna Lenox

	·	Yucca Mountain - Bob Craig


These temporary assignments will not affect the current grade levels of 
the incumbents. The assignments will last until the positions are filled 
permanently, either by reassignment or through a competitive process 
(scheduled to be accomplished by March 1998).  In addition, I have asked 
Dick Vraga to continue in his leadership position at the Cartographic and 
Publications Program (CAPP) Office in Madison, Wisconsin.  I have also 
asked Lewis Wade to serve as the Acting Chief of the new Office of 
Information and Verne Schneider to serve as the Acting Deputy Chief. 
Because of Lew's extensive executive experience outside the U.S. 
Geological Survey and his most recent experience in managing our 
publications and outreach activities and Verne's long-term experience in 
the management of our automated information activities, their temporary 
assignments will ensure continuity in meeting current customer needs and 
at the same time bring both a fresh and a historical perspective to the 
design of our new Water Information organization.  Both Lew's and Verne's 
assignment will continue until these positions are filled on a permanent 
basis.

One clarification of the above assignments is that I expect John Briggs 
to concentrate his efforts on the converted NWIS system and on the 
planned December 1997 and Spring 1998 release of the next updates of NWIS.

I have asked Lew and Verne to move immediately to put together a 
"Configuration Management Board" for the NWIS activities.  I see that 
Board as instrumental in steering the NWIS process.  I want Alan Lumb to 
provide input, guidance, and direction to the "Configuration Management 
Board" by working with the contractor in developing and presenting plans 
for NWIS activities to the Board.  We will look towards January 1998 to 
have a plan (approved by the Senior Staff) for NWIS development beyond 
the Spring 1998 release.

I have also instructed Lew and Verne to move immediately to form the 
"Board of Directors" to guide the HASS activity.  I would expect that 
both groups, i.e., the "Configuration Management Board" for NWIS and the 
"Board of Directors" for HASS to have their initial meetings by the end 
of November. 

I realize that this is a time of great change and that often stress comes 
with such change.  May I once again remind you of how important our work 
is to the Nation and thank you for your efforts in the past, in the 
present, and in the future.













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