Bob Williams Joins NAWQA Merle Shockey Is Acting Chief, NWQL Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 09:07:04 -0400 From: Janice R Ward To: "E - All WRD Employees" Subject: Personnel Changes--NAWQA & NWQL References: <37DF84B9.11BC5BCB@mailrvares.er.usgs.gov> To: All WRD Employees From: Tim Miller, NAWQA, and Janice Ward, OWQ Subject: Bob Williams Joins NAWQA Merle Shockey Is Acting Chief, NWQL Tim Miller is pleased to announce that Bob Williams has accepted an assignment as Assistant Chief for Operations, National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA). Bob will join Bill Wilber, Assistant Chief for National Synthesis, as one of Tim's two principle assistants. Bob will also serve on the NAWQA Leadership Team, along with the Assistant Regional Hydrologists for NAWQA, Bill Wilber, and Tim. Bob brings unique qualifications to this job because of his experience in many sectors of the Division. Bob began his career in 1972 as a Hydrologic Field Assistant in the Colorado District. During his over 20 years in the Colorado District he was the project chief of various District projects and was Chief of the Colorado District's Environmental Assessment Unit. In 1992, Bob became Assistant Chief of the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL). In that assignment, he worked interactively with District Chiefs, District water-quality specialists, NAWQA personnel, Regional Water Quality Specialists, and headquarters staff. The work required an understanding of District activities and needs coupled with knowledge of NWQL operations and capabilities. In 1995, Bob became Chief of the Earth Science Investigations Program for the Yucca Mountain project. In this position, he gained experience in working with Federal agencies, universities, and the private sector. He also gained insights about the need for timeliness of results and the value of sound quality assurance and quality control. Most recently, Bob was Chief of the NWQL. During his tenure as NWQL Chief, Bob worked extensively with WRD Senior Staff, the NAWQA National Leadership Team, Regional Water Quality Specialists, and managers and employees throughout the WRD. Bob has been instrumental in successfully leading the NWQL through significant challenges during the last few years, such as the move to the new laboratory and the procurement of a new Laboratory Information Management system. We are looking forward to Bob's participation in NAWQA and to drawing upon his management experience and organizational skills. Bob will be located in the offices of the Central Region. His userid is bobwill@usgs.gov and his phone number will be 303-236-5950 x221. Merle Shockey has agreed to temporarily assume the NWQL Chief position while a vacancy is issued for a permanent lab chief. He will be ably assisted by the NWQL senior staff of Bob Green, Tom Maloney, Linda Pratt, Mark Burkhardt, and Debi Treseder. Please contact Merle (mshockey@usgs.gov) at 303-236-3501 concerning NWQL issues.