Regis Philbin
Jul 3rd, 2007, 10:31 PM
http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/158757.html
HURRICANE CENTER
Pressure builds for storm chief
The controversial director of the National Hurricane Center came under additional scrutiny as a federal team of experts conducted an unannounced inspection.
BY MARTIN MERZER
A five-member team from Washington, including a lawyer who specializes in personnel matters, conducted a snap inspection Monday of the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade to determine if it can fulfill its mission under current management.
The unannounced visit came in the wake of serial controversies stirred by Bill Proenza, the center's new director, who has been sharply critical of his superiors at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Meanwhile, for the first time, one of Proenza's hurricane forecasters expressed public concern about some of Proenza's actions since he took the job in January.
Lixion Avila, a lead forecaster and a center employee for more than 20 years, said he believes Proenza meant well but unintentionally has undermined public faith in hurricane forecasts.
Proenza has complained about budget shortfalls, what he called a multimillion-dollar ''bogus'' NOAA anniversary celebration and the imminent demise of a key satellite.
He has been careful to say that those issues herald future -- rather than current -- problems, but some people have not grasped the distinction, Avila said.
HURRICANE CENTER
Pressure builds for storm chief
The controversial director of the National Hurricane Center came under additional scrutiny as a federal team of experts conducted an unannounced inspection.
BY MARTIN MERZER
A five-member team from Washington, including a lawyer who specializes in personnel matters, conducted a snap inspection Monday of the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade to determine if it can fulfill its mission under current management.
The unannounced visit came in the wake of serial controversies stirred by Bill Proenza, the center's new director, who has been sharply critical of his superiors at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Meanwhile, for the first time, one of Proenza's hurricane forecasters expressed public concern about some of Proenza's actions since he took the job in January.
Lixion Avila, a lead forecaster and a center employee for more than 20 years, said he believes Proenza meant well but unintentionally has undermined public faith in hurricane forecasts.
Proenza has complained about budget shortfalls, what he called a multimillion-dollar ''bogus'' NOAA anniversary celebration and the imminent demise of a key satellite.
He has been careful to say that those issues herald future -- rather than current -- problems, but some people have not grasped the distinction, Avila said.