A Leader in Earth System Research
Our Mission
To conduct and transition world-class Earth system research, with a focus on the Atlantic Ocean region, to inform: the accurate forecasting of extreme weather and ocean phenomena, the management of marine resources, and an understanding of climate change and associated impacts, thereby improving ocean and weather services for the region, the nation, and the world.
Our Vision
Be the leader in Earth system research in the Atlantic Ocean region, providing trusted scientific data and knowledge to predict changes in weather, climate, oceans, and marine ecosystems.
Our Leadership
Director
A member of the federal government’s senior executive service, Dr. Cortinas has served nine years as director of OWAQ, NOAA Research’s program to improve NOAA National Weather Service products and services for high-impact weather events. In this office, he also oversaw NOAA’s U.S. Weather Research Program (USWRP), the Joint Technology Transfer Initiative (JTTI), and hosted the National Earth System Prediction Capability project office. Cortinas has extensive experience transitioning research to operations, particularly through USWRP and JTTI.
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Prior to joining OWAQ in 2010, Cortinas directed NOAA Research’s Cooperative Institute program, overseeing the administration of a program that supported more than 1000 scientists and students at United States universities working with NOAA. In this position, he oversaw administration, grant management, and science policy development for cooperative institutes across the United States and led the development of NOAA’s first Administrative Order governing CIs and its accompanying handbook.
From 1992-2003, Cortinas was a research scientist at NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies at the University of Oklahoma, working with scientists at NOAA Research’s National Severe Storms Laboratory to improve winter weather products and services at NOAA’s National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center. In 2000, he became the first CIMMS assistant director of NOAA Relations, overseeing NOAA-supported activities at CIMMS.
ADVOCATE FOR UNDERREPRESENTED IN STEM
Throughout his career, Cortinas has been a passionate advocate for underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). He is a member of several scientific organizations that work to improve diversity within STEM, such as the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals, Latinos@NOAA, the American Geophysical Union, and the American Meteorological Society (AMS), for which he is currently an elected representative of the AMS Council.
Cortinas grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and is the oldest of five children. He received a B.S. in Meteorology from Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado, and a doctorate in Geophysical Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Cortinas has authored and co-authored many scientific articles, including a chapter on operational meteorology in the Encyclopedia of Atmospheric Sciences, Academic Press, Vol. 4, and served on numerous American and international scientific working groups and committees.
| AOML Director
John Cortinas, Ph.D.
| AOML Deputy Director & Acting Administrative Officer
Molly Baringer, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Molly is a veteran sea-going oceanographer and has led numerous research projects during her 22-year tenure at AOML. Her research portfolio is strongly rooted in the Atlantic Ocean, linking ocean circulation patterns and changes to global and regional climate patterns. She skillfully manages research teams and projects, and forges partnerships with national and international research institutions, including the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Environmental Research Council in the UK, among others, to bring AOML science to bear.
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Molly’s research expertise includes measuring the strength of the Western Boundary Current in the North Atlantic, monitoring the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic as part of the RAPID/MOCH program, managing high-density XBT observations in the Atlantic, and leading repeat hydrography and coastal carbon dioxide surveys. Molly has served in leadership roles on more than 29 hydrographic programs since 1998, including the role of chief scientist on more than a dozen of these cruises.
Molly’s scientific leadership extends well beyond the ship’s helm. Molly has served on more than 21 national and international panels including as secretary of the Physical Oceanography Section of the American Meteorological Society and the International Argo Panel, regularly providing advice and direction on national science policy and program management, including stakeholder negotiations.
Molly received her doctoral degree in 1994 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the field of physical oceanography. Molly is also a graduate of NOAA’s Leadership Competency Development Program and the National Weather Service’s Building Leaders for a Solid Tomorrow (BLAST) program. Molly also served as AOML’s acting deputy director in 2010, during the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, skillfully managing resources to support AOML’s scientific response.
Molly has published over 80 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Science, the Journal of Climate, and the Journal of Geophysical Research, to name a few. Over the past ten years she has also served as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on numerous externally funded research programs totaling more than $30 million. She is also the recipient of the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal award for her role on the Western Boundary Time Series Team.
Division Directors
Acting Director
Hurricane Research Division
Shirley Murillo
Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division Director
Chris Kelble, Ph.D.
Physical Oceanography Division Director
Rick Lumpkin, Ph.D.
Acting Deputy Director
Hurricane Research Division
Ghassan (Gus) Alaka, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division
Jasmin John
Deputy Director
Physical Oceanography Division
Renellys Perez, Ph. D.
A History of Excellence in Research
See all awards earned by AOML staff and scientists for the last decade.
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (scientific category) | South Florida Federal Executive Board |
Hosmay Lopez
|
For groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of how ENSO events will evolve with global warming, with significant implications for how residents of South Florida will experience climate change over the next several decades. |
| Employee of the Month Award
(February 2023) |
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Nicole I. Besemer
|
For successfully orchestrating and overseeing field missions in the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas, St. Croix, and Flower Garden Banks following a widespread coral disease outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring all necessary data were safely and successfully collected in support of NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Medal (group award with colleagues at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory) |
Department of Commerce | Greg Foltz
Gustavo Goni Francis Bringas Jun Zhang (CIMAS) Joaquin Trinanes (Contractor) |
For pioneering the application of uncrewed surface vehicles (saildrones) to observe hurricanes and tropical storms. |
| William Gray Award | National Tropical Weather Conference |
Frank D. Marks
|
For outstanding leadership and/or contributions to the field of tropical meteorology. |
| Employee of the Year Award
(Personal and Professional Development category)
|
NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Hosmay Lopez
Sang-Ki Lee Dongmin Kim (CIMAS) |
For groundbreaking scientific research that evaluates how El Niño-Southern Oscillation events will evolve in all seasons as a result of anthropogenic climate change, with significant implications for future Atlantic hurricane season intensities and springtime tornado outbreaks in the United States. |
| Employee of the Year Award
(Administrative and Technical Support category) |
NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Kelly D. Goodwin | For leading and coordinating the inception and formalization of NOAA’s ‘Omics Program to advance the ‘omics portfolio across OAR and NOAA. |
| EEO Diversity Award (members of OAR’s Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee) | NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research |
Ruth Almonte Alejandra Lorenzo
|
For chronicling the great diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility work taking place in the labs, programs, and staff offices used in various reports submitted to NOAA’s Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Department of Commerce. |
| EEO-Diversity Award
(OAR-Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, ODIAC, group award) |
NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Sim D. Aberson
Jasmin G. John Emily B. Osborne
|
For diligent efforts to expand and chronicle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility activities and awareness by establishing five working groups, a “What’s New” slide deck for members to share with their respective labs, programs, and staff offices, and leading the initiative to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment during field work. |
| Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service | President Joseph R. Biden/Office of Personnel Management |
John V. Cortinas
|
For exceptional leadership throughout more than 15 years of federal service that has led to significant improvements in NOAA’s ability to provide accurate and timely forecasts and warnings for many types of extreme weather, as well as being an exemplary role model for NOAA’s workforce and others from underrepresented communities by working tirelessly to advance diversity and inclusion across NOAA. |
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Molly O. Baringer
Jodi K. Brewster (CIMAS) Cedrick O. Estelhomme (CIMAS) Jessie E. Harris Jaya Nair (CIMAS) Brandon G. Navarro (CIMAS) Emily B. Osborne Claudia Schmid Yuanyuan Xu (CIMAS) Bo Yang (CIMAS) |
For outstanding advances in the U.S. ocean observing and processing of biogeochemical Argo float data, leading to a new era of global oceanography. |
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Jasmin G. John
(group award with former colleagues at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory) |
For advancing the understanding of the Earth System by developing and applying NOAA’s state-of-the-art Coupled Carbon-Chemistry-Climate model. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Frank D. Marks (on behalf of the Hurricane Research Division)
Jason P. Dunion (CIMAS) Kathryn J. Sellwood (CIMAS) Jonathan A. Zawislak (CIMAS) |
For the rapid development of an application allowing aircraft acquired dropwindsonde data to be processed and disseminated from the ground. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Leticia Barbero (CIMAS)
Charles M. Featherstone James A. Hooper (CIMAS) Patrick Mears (CIMAS) Emilce Rodriguez Ian E. Smith (CIMAS) |
For turning the canceled GO-SHIP A13.5 cruise into a new mission that maximized autonomous instrument deployments and surface water data collection. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | John F. Gamache
Paul D. Reasor (OAR group award) |
For the successful delivery of operational, near real-time Doppler radar data from the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft to the National Hurricane Center. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Shaun R. Dolk (CIMAS)
Gregory R. Foltz Denis L. Volkov (CIMAS) (OAR group award) |
For scientific achievement in the design and implementation of the complex Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Leticia Barbero (CIMAS)
Emily B. Osborne Ian C. Enochs (OAR group award) |
For leadership in developing the Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Acidification 2020-2029 Research Plan to advance NOAA’s response to acidification. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Christopher R. Kelble
(NMFS group award) |
For providing ready access to NOAA information and data on the status of ecosystems that support valuable U.S. marine fisheries, species, and services. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Lidia Cucurull
(NESDIS group award) |
For ensuring that NOAA’s next generation geostationary satellite system will meet the most critical observing needs for our nation and partners. |
| Order of Sherman’s Lagoon | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Gail M. Derr | For exemplary service toward improving science communication at AOML through the outstanding production of AOML’s quarterly Keynotes publication and editing services for employees at AOML. |
| NGI Research Award | Mississippi State University- Northern Gulf Institute | Xiaomin Chen | For outstanding research accomplishments that have been instrumental in developing more accurate weather forecasts for intensifying tropical cyclones. |
| NOAA Team Member of the Month (March 2022) | NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | William D. Ramstrom (CIMAS) | For contributions that have improved hurricane structure and intensity predictions that will greatly benefit the public and emergency managers in their decision-making. |
| Technology Rising Star | Career Communications Group, Inc. | S. Jean Lim (CIMAS) | For demonstrated excellence in applying machine learning, software development, and bioinformatics to improve eDNA analyses and ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico. |
| Richard H. Hagemeyer Award | NOAA- National Weather Service | Jason P. Dunion | For leadership that has made substantial long-term contributions to the U.S. hurricane program. |
| Corporate Innovation Award | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | The Argo Program AOML Argo members include: Molly O. Baringer Jodi K. Brewster (CIMAS) Cedrick O. Estelhomme (CIMAS) Jessie (Jay) E. Harris Jaya Nair(CIMAS) Brandon G. Navarro (CIMAS) Emily B. Osborne Claudia Schmid Yuan-Yuan Xu (CIMAS) Bo Yang (CIMAS) |
For innovation in large-scale autonomous observations in oceanography with global impacts in marine and climate science and technology. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Scientific Paper Award | NOAA- Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Rik Wanninkhof | For the best NOAA Research scientific paper for 2021 in the Oceans and Great Lakes category: Gruber, N., D. Clement, B.R. Carter, R.A. Feely, S. van Heuven, M. Hoppema, M. Ishii, R.M. Key, A. Kozyr, S.K. Lauvset, C. Lo Monaco, J.T. Mathis, A. Murata, A. Olsen, F.F. Perez, C.L. Sabine, T. Tanhua, and R. WANNINKHOF, 2019: The oceanic sink for anthropogenic CO2 from 1994 to 2007. Science, 363(6432):1193-1199 |
| Employee of the Year Award | NOAA- Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Sim D. Aberson | For personal and professional excellence in advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) across AOML, OAR, and NOAA. |
| Administator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Hosmay Lopez | For outstanding research on assessing the variability, predictability, and future projections of extreme heat waves affecting the continental US. |
| Distinguished Career Award | Department of Commerce | Rik Wanninkhof | For outstanding scientific leadership of ocean carbon cycle research in support of NOAA’s mission to understand a changing climate and support ocean health. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Derek P. Manzello | For successfully deploying the first MAP-CO2 buoy in a southern hemisphere coral reef to monitor ocean acidification. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Francis Bringas Gustavo J. Goni Ulises F. Rivero |
For the successful coordination and operation of a “picket fence” of underwater gliders during the 2019 hurricane season for improved forecasting. |
| Joanne Simpson Tropical Meteorology Research Award |
American Meteorological Society | Frank D. Marks | For outstanding contributions to the understanding and prediction of tropical cyclones through scholarship, field contributions, and community leadership. |
| Diversity Impact Award | Global Employee Resource Group Network | Sim D. Aberson (member of NOAA’s Diversity Professional Advancement Working Group) |
In recognition of NOAA’s Diversity Professional Advancement Working Group being named as one of the top 25 employee resource groups in America. |
| Reviewer’s Certificate | Royal Meteorological Society | Michael S. Fischer (CIMAS) | For the thoroughness and quality of a large number of reviews on tropical cyclones, maintaining the high standards for papers appearing in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. |
| Hermes Creative Platinum Award for Outstanding TV Placements and Outstanding Overall Publicity Campaign | Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals | Ian C. Enochs, Derek P. Manzello, Nicole I. Bessemer (CIMAS), (members of NOAA’s Coral Reef Condition Status Report Working Group) | In recognition of the media impact of NOAA’s Coral Reef Condition Status Report, with more than 521 million impressions with coverage in 46 states, plus Washington, DC, for the coral reef status report press event. |
| NOAA Employee of the Month (April 2021) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Joseph R. Bishop | For leading the design, engineering, and deployment of a first-of-its-kind real-time monitoring buoy as part of a proposed observational and expert system for the Port Everglades expansion near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. |
| Ocean Observing Team Award (RAPID-MOCHA-WBTS 26°N Team) | The Oceanographic Society | Molly O. Baringer, Pedro L. Pena, Ulises F. Rivero, Ryan H. Smith, Andrew J. Stefanick, George A. Berberian (CIMAS), Ricardo Domingues (CIMAS), Rigoberto F. Garcia (CIMAS), James A. Hooper (CIMAS), Grant T. Rawson (CIMAS), Diego P. Ugaz (CIMAS), Denis L. Volkov (CIMAS), (members of the WBTS Team at AOML) | For transforming understanding of Atlantic circulation with a breakthrough in observing system design, providing continuous, cost effective measurements. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Medal | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Kelly D. Goodwin | For advancing awareness and application of ‘Omics research for a strategic NOAA vision to shape scientific priorities and implementation of research. |
| Bronze Medal | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Ian C. Enochs, Derek P. Manzello, (members of a National Ocean Service group award) | For leading the response to identify, understand, track, and mitigate the devastating effects of stony coral tissue loss disease in Florida. |
| Gold Medal | Department of Commerce | George R. Alvey (CIMAS), Heather M. Holbach (CIMAS) Kelly A. Ryan (CIMAS), Kathryn J. Sellwood (CIMAS), Jonathan A. Zawislak (CIMAS) | For courage, dedication, and heroism during search and rescue operations aboard NOAA’s P-3 Hurricane Hunter aircraft to locate the vessel Bourbon Rhode and its crew (on September 27-28, 2019). |
| Administrative/Technical Support Award | NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Ramon A. Hurlockdick | For work on the AOML Admin System that has facilitated improved financial, property administration, and communication at AOML. |
| EEO/Diversity Award for Exemplary Service | NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Alejandra Lorenzo | For long-term outreach, mentorship, and support of STEM education for women and minority students. |
| EEO/Diversity Award for Exemplary Service | NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Renellys C. Perez | For educational outreach activities and mentorship of women and minority communities. |
| Silver Sherman Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Ruth Almonte | For exceptional customer service, professionalism, and dedication to supporting AOML’s administrative functions associated with budget, human resources, equal employment opportunity, and cooperative institutes. Because of Ruth’s outstanding support, AOML is able to continue conducting world-class research for the American public. |
| Bronze Medal | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Kelly D. Goodwin | For advancing awareness and application of ‘Omics research for a strategic NOAA vision to shape scientific priorities and implementation of research. |
| Bronze Medal | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Ian C. Enochs,Derek P. Manzello, (members of a National Ocean Service group award) | For leading the response to identify, understand, track, and mitigate the devastating effects of stony coral tissue loss disease in Florida. |
| NOAA Employee/Team Member of the Week Award (May 27, 2020): COVID-19 Response | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Robert F. Rogers (through his participation in NOAA’s Leadership Development Competencies Program) | For his participation on NOAA’s Budget Formulation and Execution Team to minimize and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 to NOAA’s budget function. Due to the team’s efforts, NOAA obtained $20 million for staffing, cleaning, and IT support needed to ensure the continuity of its operations, as well as $300 million in direct assistance for impacted members of the American fishing industry. |
| NOAA Employee/Team Member of the Week Award (May 13, 2020): COVID-19 Response | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Stephanie M. Rosales (CIMAS) Alyssa N. Thompson, NOAA Corps | For efforts to increase the University of Miami Health System’s ability to conduct COVID-19 testing through the loan of AOML’s KingFisher instrument. Dr. Rosales’ and LTJG Thompson’s extraordinary creativity and hard work directly led to increased COVID-19 testing capacity in Miami, Florida. |
| NOAA Employee/Team Member of the Week Award (April 30, 2020): COVID-19 Response | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Leticia Barbero (CIMAS), Charles M. Featherstone, James A. Hooper (CIMAS), N. Patrick Mears (CIMAS), Ian E. Smith (CIMAS) (members of the GO-SHIP A13.5 science team) | For collecting basinwide, underway samples and measurements, as well as deploying floats and drifters, across the Atlantic after being ordered to return immediately to the United States. Their creativity and perseverance resulted in a cross-basin, multi-disciplinary set of samples, supporting critical NOAA research and the deployment of long-term observing platforms that will provide data for years to come. |
| Banner I. Miller Award | American Meteorological Society | Jun A. Zhang (CIMAS), Robert F. Rogers | For the best contribution to the science of hurricane and tropical weather forecasting published in a journal with international circulation during the 48 months prior to the presentation of the award: Zhang, J.A., D.S. Nolan, R.F. Rogers, and V. Tallapragada, 2015: Evaluating the impact of improvements in the boundary layer parameterization on hurricane intensity and structure forecasts in HWRF. Monthly Weather Review, 143(8):3136-3155 (doi:10.1175/MWR-D-14- 00339.1). |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | John Cortinas | For exemplary leadership in implementing the WOMEN of NOAA campaign. |
| Special Appreciation Award | Southeast Region of the Federal Laboratory Consortium | Natchanon Amornthammarong | For creating a novel low-cost, high-precision sea temperature sensor for coral reef monitoring. |
| Silver Medal | Department of Commerce | Ian C. Enochs, Nathan P. Formel (CIMAS) | For the development of a low-cost, open source subsurface autosampler (SAS) that eliminates barriers to water sampling and increases research capacity for all oceanographers. |
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (Service to Community category) | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Evan B. Forde | For long term efforts to create and enhance public education and youth opportunities in south Florida communities, as well as long-term efforts to feed hungry families. |
| Order of Sherman’s Lagoon Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Manuel Fraga | For exemplary service, long-term commitment, and consistent efforts towards maintaining AOML’s aging facility, including the repair of a 30-year old chiller, electric generators, and air handlers, while continuing to improve the quality of the facility, including laboratory renovation, lighting retrofits, flooring replacement, and more. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel L. Albritton Outstanding Science Communicator Award | Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Frank D. Marks | For outstanding communication of NOAA research and its relevance to the American public. |
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | John F. Gamache (member of NOAA-Office of Marine and Aviation Operations group award) | For the design, fabrication, and validation of the airborne dual-Doppler weather radar system on NOAA’s P-3 aircraft. |
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Molly O. Baringer, Claudia N. Schmid, (members of a group award) | For outstanding success of the U.S. Argo ocean observing program, providing excellent oceanographic data that has led to a new era of oceanography. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (October 2018) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Sonia Otero (CIMAS) | For developing a software module for NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center that integrates dropwindsonde datasets into weather models, as well as writing a sophisticated program that incorporates dropwindsonde data from the ground rather than from the aircraft, saving critical aircraft space. Sonia’s contributions have significantly improved the ability of AOC and the National Weather Service to ensure critical data are assimilated into forecasts models, helping warn the public of severe weather. |
| Banner I. Miller Award | American Meteorological Society | Jason P. Dunion | For the best contribution to the science of hurricane and tropical weather forecasting published in a journal with international circulation during the 48 months prior to the presentation of the award:
Dunion, J.P., C.D. Thorncroft, and C.S. Velden, 2014: The tropical cyclone diurnal cycle of mature hurricanes. Monthly Weather Review, 142(10):3900- 3919 (doi:10.1175/MWR-D-13-00191.1). |
| Laureate Award for Dual Defense Use | Aviation Week | Joseph J. Cione, Altug Aksoy (CIMAS), Brittany Dahl (CIMAS), Kelly Ryan (CIMAS), Jun A. Zhang (CIMAS) | For use of the Coyote unmanned aerial system to gather data in the eye of Hurricane Maria, enabling NOAA to better forecast how intense the storm would be at landfall and more accurately estimate the magnitude of Maria’s storm surge. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (January 2018) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Lisa R. Bucci (CIMAS) | For serving as the science team leader on NOAA P-3 Hurricane Hunter missions into Hurricane Irma, gathering vital data for numerical forecast models that were used to generate accurate forecasts that saved countless lives and property. |
| Outstanding Scientific Paper Award (Oceans and Great Lakes category) | Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Luke R. Thompson, Kelly D. Goodwin | For pre-eminent science published through rigorous peer-review: Thompson, L.R., J.G. Sanders, D. McDonald, A. Amir, J. Ladau, K.J. Locey, R.J. Prill, A. Tripathi, S.M. Gibbons, G. Ackermann, J.A. Navas-Molina, S. Janssen, E. Kopylova, Y. Vázquez-Baeza, A. Gonzalez, J.T. Morton, S. Mirarab, Z.Z. Xu, L. Jiang, M.F. Haroon, J. Kanbar, Q. Zhu, S.J. Song, T. Kosciolek, N.A. Bokulich, J. Lefler, C.J. Brislawn, G. Humphrey, S.M. Owens, J. Hampton-Marcell, D. Berg-Lyons, V. McKenzie, N. Fierer, J.A. Fuhrman, A. Clauset, R.L. Stevens, A. Shade, K.S. Pollard, K.D. Goodwin, et al., 2017: A communal catalogue reveals Earth’s multiscale microbial diversity. Nature, 551(7681):457-463. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Elizabeth M. Johns, Ryan H. Smith | For surveying Cuban waters and establishing a groundbreaking multinational Atlantic bluefin tuna research partnership with Cuban scientists. |
| Excellence in Partnering Award | National Oceanographic Partnership Program | James C. Hendee, Elizabeth M. Johns, Christopher R. Kelble, Christopher D. Sinigalliano | For contributions to the project entitled National Marine Sanctuaries at Sentinel Sites for a Demonstration Marine Biodiversity Observation Network. |
| Employee of the Year Award (Scientific category) | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Sang-Ki Lee | For research that has demonstrated a relationship between sea surface temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the likelihood of severe tornado outbreaks in the United States, enabling vulnerable communities and first responders to plan for likely severe seasons with a lead time of approximately 1-3 months. |
| Achievement Award | NOAA Corps | LTJG Benjamin E. VanDine | For exemplary service and exceptional efforts to make AOML a safer, more cost-efficient laboratory. |
| Banner I. Miller Award | American Meteorological Society | Robert M. Atlas, Lisa R. Bucci (CIMAS) | For the best contribution to the science of hurricane and tropical weather forecasting published in a journal with international circulation during the 48 months prior to the presentation of the award: Nolan, D.S., R. Atlas, K.T. Bhatia, and L.R. Bucci, 2013: Development and validation of a hurricane nature run using the Joint OSSE nature run and the WRF model. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 5:382-405 (doi:10.1002/jame.20031). |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denny Medal | Institute of Marine Engineering, Science, and Technology | Joaquin Trinanes (Contractor) Gustavo Goni | For the best paper published over the course of a year in theJournal of Operational Oceanography. Trinanes, J.A., M.J. Olascoaga, G.J. Goni, N.A. Maximenko, D.A. Griffin, and J. Hafner, 2016: Analysis of flight MH370 potential debris trajectories using ocean observations and numerical model results.,9(2):126-138 (doi:10.1080/<1755876X.2016.1248149). |
| Outstanding Reviewer Award | IOP Publishing | Rik Wanninkhof | For outstanding reviews of papers submitted to the journalEnvironmental Research Lettersthat have ensured the quality and integrity of IOP’s publications. |
| Order of Sherman’s Lagoon Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Howard A. Friedman | For exemplary service, long-term commitment, and consistent efforts towards promoting equal employment opportunity, diversity, and educational outreach activities at AOML, including assisting Hollings scholars, student interns, and post-docs visiting AOML. |
| Silver Medal | Department of Commerce | Molly O. Baringer, Dalynne Julmiste, Stephen Meador | For being members of a Department of Commerce team that successfully developed and awarded five extremely complex, long term, and alternatively-financed energy contracts valued at $138 million. |
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Francis Bringas, Caridad I. Gonzalez (CIMAS) Gustavo J. Goni, Pedro L. Pena, Ulises F. Rivero | For developing and implementing an Iridium based, real-time transmission system for oceanographic and meteorological |
| Program Development Award | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Alejandra Lorenzo | In appreciation of 5 years of leadership and development of the English as a Second Language (ESOL) Outreach Program. |
| Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award (Lean, Clean, and Green category) | Department of Commerce | Molly O. Baringer, Dalynne Julmiste, Stephen S. Meador | For successfully developing and awarding over $138M in alternative-financed energy savings performance contracts, yielding over $5M annually in cost savings. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Francis Bringas, Gustavo J. Goni, George R. Halliwell | For contributions on the rapid and successful implementation of an array of underwater gliders geared towards Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic Ocean hurricane research and forecasts. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (March 2016) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Caridad I. Gonzalez (CIMAS) | For developing software for a project that has improved how ocean temperature data from expendable bathythermographs are |
| EEO Diversity Award for Exemplary Service | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Howard A. Friedman | For exemplary service, long-term commitment, and consistent efforts toward promoting equal employment opportunity, diversity, and educational and outreach activities at AOML, as well as interaction with NOAA’s Office of Education and the South Florida Federal Executive Board. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainability Award | Netherland-America Foundation | Ruben J. van Hooidonk (CIMAS) | In recognition of being an alumnus of the NAF Fulbright Fellowship Program and dedication to the field of sustainability through research on coral reef ecosystems. |
| Silver Medal | Department of Commerce | Joseph J. Cione, Erica M. Rule | For successfully executing the first-ever launch of an Unmanned Aircraft System from a manned aircraft into a major hurricane, Hurricane Edouard. |
| Employee of the Month Award (May 2015) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Jessie E. (Jay) Harris | For long-term efforts to keep computer and information technology systems operational for AOML’s Physical Oceanography Division, enabling mission-critical science to be successfully conducted on behalf of NOAA with only minimal computer-related interruptions. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (February 2015) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Ricardo Domingues (CIMAS) | For developing the Mandatory Ship Reporting (MSR) system, which is being used to monitor and protect North Atlantic right whales along the U.S. eastern seaboard. |
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | Christopher R. Kelble | For advancing ecosystem-based management via the first comprehensive Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Status Report that includes more than 140 ecological indicators. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Medal | Department of Commerce | Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan, Frank D. Marks, Thiago S. Quirino, (members of a National Weather Service group) | For developing and implementing a high resolution Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) system model, a major advance in operational hurricane intensity prediction. |
| Leadership Circle of CLEO Award | Climate Leadership Engagement Opportunities | Maribeth L. Gidley (CIMAS) | For numerous outreach efforts to discuss the public health impacts of sea level rise, assisting CLEO bridge the divide between science and society as related to the issue of climate change. |
| Employee of the Year Award | NOAA-Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Claude F. (Rick) Lumpkin, Mayra C. Pazos | For efforts to improve the quality of drifter data by developing a new methodology that evaluates when drifters have lost their drogues. |
| Early Career Scientist Award | International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics | Gregory R. Foltz | For outstanding research in the earth and space sciences and for international research cooperation. |
| Special Award | American Meteorological Society | Jason P. Dunion (CIMAS), (Group award for the University of Wisconsin’s Tropical Cyclones Group of the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies) | For providing the weather community with valuable tropical cyclone-related satellite information and derived products for over two decades. |
| Employee of the Month Award (October 2014) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Neal M. Dorst | For efforts to document the history of AOML’s Hurricane Research Division and to preserve its analog, digital, and film data resources. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (July 2014) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Shaun R. Dolk (CIMAS) | For professionalism, commitment to excellence, and outreach efforts including support of NOAA’s “Adopt a Drifter” program which helps school children learn about the ocean by adopting and tracking their very own drifting buoy. |
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (Scientific category—group) | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Robert A. Black, Lisa R. Bucci (CIMAS), Hua Chen (NRC), Stanley B. Goldenberg, Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan Frank D. Marks, Thiago S. Quirino, Xuejin Zhang (CIMAS) | For contributions toward the development of the advanced, high-resolution Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model used operationally to provide forecast guidance to the National Hurricane Center. |
| Banner I. Miller Award | American Meteorological Society | John F. Gamache, Frank D. Marks | For valuable insights into incorporating real time airborne Doppler radar measurements via ensemble data assimilation, leading to improvements in forecasts of tropical cyclone track and intensity. Zhang, F., Y. Weng, J.F. Gamache, and F.D. Marks, 2011: Performance of convection-permitting hurricane initialization and prediction during 2008-2010 with ensemble data assimilation of inner-core airborne Doppler radar observations. Geophysical Research Letters, 38:L15810, doi:10.1029/2011GL048469. |
| Employee of the Month Award (March 2014) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Jennifer D. Calderon-Diaz | For providing outstanding administrative services to the staff of AOML’s Hurricane Research Division. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific and Technological Achievement Award | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Kelly D. Goodwin Christopher D. Sinigalliano | For contributions in supporting the implementation of the EPA’s Method 1611 for rapid recreational water testing. |
| Distinguished Career Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Silvia L. Garzoli | For excellence in scientific research of Atlantic Ocean dynamics and extensive service to the oceanographic community. |
| 2011 Outstanding Scientific Paper Award (awarded in 2013) | NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Derek P. Manzello | Manzello, D.P., 2010: Coral growth with thermal stress and ocean acidification: Lessons from the eastern tropical Pacific.Coral Reefs,29(3):749-758. |
| Employee of the Month Award (August 2013) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Andrew J. Stefanick | For designing and building an enhanced CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) frame, an important and innovative piece of scientific infrastructure. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (May 2013) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Xuejin Zhang (CIMAS) | For contributions in support of NOAAʼs Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) high resolution computer model. |
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (Management category) | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Shirley T. Murillo | For leadership in managing the 2012 Hurricane Field Program, an effort which involved the collaboration of scientists throughout NOAA, other federal agencies, and academic partners, and the Joint Hurricane Test Bed project. |
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (Scientific category) | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Chunzai Wang | For professional excellence and exceptional productivity. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Employee of the Year Award (Individual category) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Chunzai Wang | For personal and professional excellence. |
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (group category) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Robert A. Black, Lisa R. Bucci (CIMAS), Stanley B. Goldenberg, Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan, Frank D. Marks, Thiago S. Quirino, Xuejin Zhang (CIMAS) | For innovative work on the NCEP/EMC hurricane forecast model, leading to greatly improved hurricane track and intensity forecasts. |
| Premio RAICES a la Cooperacíon Internacional en Ciencia,Tecnología, e Innovacíon | Argentine Ministry of Science and Technology | Silvia L. Garzoli | For Argentinean researchers living abroad of Argentina who have strengthened scientific cooperation and technological capabilities within the country. |
| Technology Transfer Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Kelly D. Goodwin, Christopher D. Sinigalliano | For exceptional leadership in developing and transferring microbial source tracking tools to identify coastal water contamination sources, enabling city and county managers to devise mitigation strategies to restore water quality, decrease risks to human health, and preserve coastal economies. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (October 2012) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Sang-Ki Lee (CIMAS) | For research identifying a relationship between La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and increased tornadic activity in the United States. |
| Technology Assistance Award | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Alejandra Lorenzo, Russell St. Fleur (CIMAS) | For efforts to aid the South Florida Federal Executive Board in updating its website. |
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Peter P. Dodge, John F. Gamache, Frank D. Marks | For outstanding management of the G-IV tail Doppler radar project, enhancing NOAA’s weather forecasting and research capability. |
| John Martin Award | Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography | Richard H. Wanninkhof | For your landmark paper entitled Relationship between wind speed and gas exchange over the ocean (Wanninkhof, 1992, JGR 97(C5):7373- 7382) that has had a significant impact on subsequent research in the field ofoceanography. |
| Team Member of the Month Award (March 2012) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Maribeth L. Gidley (CIMAS) | For exceptional outreach efforts and mentoring of graduate and summer student interns. |
| Antarctica Service Medal | National Science Foundation | Kevin F. Sullivan (CIMAS) | For research efforts conducted during the two month U.S. CLIVAR/CO2 Repeat Hydrography Program S4P cruise to the Southern Ocean. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Medal | Department of Commerce | John Kaplan | For providing skillful operational hurricane intensity models as demonstrated by the National Hurricane Center forecast verifications for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. |
| Charles E. Anderson Award | American Meteorological Society | Shirley T. Murillo | For outstanding support of minorities and women to promote a more diverse workforce through mentoring, education, and community service. |
| Group Achievement Award | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Sim D. Aberson, Altug Aksoy (CIMAS), Robert M. Atlas, Michael L. Black, Neal M. Dorst, Jason P. Dunion (CIMAS), John Kaplan, Frank D. Marks, Shirley T. Murillo, Robert F. Rogers, Kathryn J. Sellwood (CIMAS), Eric W. Uhlhorn, Paul T. Willis (CIMAS) | For outstanding contributions to the Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) field campaign as members of the GRIP Science Team during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. |
| Editor’s Citation for Excellence in Refereeing Award | American Geophysical Union | Richard H. Wanninkhof | For conscientious reviews of submitted papers to theJournal of Geophysical Research (Oceans)that have enabled AGU to maintain its high standards of quality. |
| Administrator’s Award | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Evan B. Forde | For outstanding communication of NOAA science, sharing the joy of science with students, and helping to foster a science literate society. |
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (Scientific category) | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Robert F. Rogers | For leadership during NOAA’s 2010 Hurricane Field Program and for research that has contributed to a greater understanding of hurricane structure and intensity. |
| Employee of the Month Award (April 2011) | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Robert F. Rogers | In recognition of his leadership during NOAA’s 2010 Hurricane Field Program. |
| Verner E. Suomi Award | American Meteorological Society | Frank D. Marks | For creative use of airborne Doppler radar and other technologies that have advanced the understanding of the dynamics of tropical cyclones. |
| Editor’s Award | American Meteorological Society | Altug Aksoy | For providing a large number of high-quality reviews to several of the editors. |
| Award | Organization | Awardees | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinguished Career Award | U.S. Department of Commerce | Judith Gray | For exceptional management, leadership, and service to NOAA employees throughout 30 years of federal service. |
| Outstanding Scientific Paper Award | NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research | Peter G. Black, Robert W. Burpee, Frank D. Marks, Michael T. Montgomery | Marks, F.D., P.G. Black, M.T. Montgomery, and R.W. Burpee, 2008: Structure of the eye and eyewall of Hurricane Hugo (1989). Monthly Weather Review, 136(4):1237-1259. |
| Silver Medal | U.S. Department of Commerce | Alan P. Leonardi | For exemplary leadership in building a first-of its-kind partnership with Google to disseminate NOAA ocean data and information through Google Earth. |
| Group Achievement Award | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Robert M. Atlas, Jason P. Dunion (CIMAS) | For outstanding contributions in improving weather forecasting using data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and for production of its key climate data products. |
| Federal Employee of the Year Award (Scientific category) | South Florida Federal Executive Board | Silvia L. Garzoli | For outstanding research and leadership. |
| Special Award | American Meteorological Society | Eric W. Uhlhorn, Peter G. Black (retired) | For sustaining over 30 years an exceptional, interdisciplinary project resulting in continuous operational monitoring of hurricane surface winds, improved hurricane intensity advisories, and saving countless lives. |
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