Staffing and Assignment Changes in the Office of Surface Water To: "A - Division Chief and Staff", "B - Branch Chiefs and Offices", "DC - All District Chiefs", osw.all@srv1rvares.er.usgs.gov From: "Thomas H Yorke Jr., Chief, OSW, Reston, VA" Subject: OSW Staffing and Assignment Changes Date: Thu, 03 Sep 1998 10:33:04 -0400 Sender: "L. Jane Rose, Secretary, Reston, VA" In Reply Refer To: Mail Stop 415 MEMORANDUM September 2, 1998 To: Distribution A, B, DC From: Thomas H. Yorke Chief, Office of Surface Water Subject: Staffing and Assignment Changes in the Office of Surface Water Over the coming months, a number of personnel adjustments will occur within the Office of Surface Water (OSW). These include the arrival and departure of several individuals, the addition of new Office responsibilities, and several changes in the responsibilities of existing staff. A description of these changes follows. On September 1 John Costa was officially reassigned from Cascades Volcano Observatory to OSW where he now coordinates flood activities for the Division. This is a new position in the Office and is designed to provide a focal point within the Bureau for all scientific, technical, and programmatic aspects of flood hydrology. John's duties include serving as the Bureau's principal on-site coordinator during major regional floods; coordinating an integrated Flood Frequency Program that will implement a consistent methodology nationwide; and providing leadership in the development and use of standards and guidelines for national flood studies. This is a challenging and high profile position that will add significantly to the support functions of OSW. At the same time, Harry Lins has relinquished his responsibilities as Coordinator of the Global Change Hydrology Program and is now coordinating drought activities for the Division. This is also a new role for OSW and is a complementary position to the flood coordinator. Harry's activities will include leading the development and use of techniques for characterizing hydrologic drought; identifying critical data needs, formulating short- and long-term data collection plans, and implementing methods for depicting drought conditions on-line and in real-time; and coordinating and assisting in the preparation of drought reports following significant regional drought episodes. The Office recognizes that the Districts have long sought technical guidance on methods for characterizing drought and now expects to improve its support capabilities. Harry will also continue to coordinate the activities of the joint USGS-Bureau of Reclamation Watershed Modeling Program. In addition to these two major changes, there are a number of other staffing adjustments affecting the Office. Bill Kirby has assumed responsibility for coordinating the Divisions global change research activities. One of Bill's primary responsibilities is to represent WRD on the Bureau's Global Change Coordinating Committee. Kevin Oberg is now the OSW representative on the WRD Instrumentation Committee.Mike Norris will take over as the Assistant Chief of the Office of Surface Water on October 13. He leaves the Massachusetts-Rhode Island District where he has been the Associate District Chief since 1995. On October 1, Greg Schwarz will move from OSW to NAWQA, where he will continue work on the SPARROW model. An economist, Greg came to the Office in 1997 when the Branch of Systems Analysis was closed. Also in October, Robert Mason will leave OSW to become the Data Chief in the California District. Robert has been an invaluable member of OSW since his arrival in 1995. He has been instrumental in the effort to deliver real-time streamflow information online, in enhancing the National Flood Frequency Program, and in preparing information regarding the stream-gaging program for the public and Congress. He has also worked hard and successfully to improve our relations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Federal agencies.