[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7215-S7216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING DR. ELBERT W. FRIDAY, JR., ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE NATIONAL 
                 OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, in over 30 years as a U.S. 
Senator, I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of Federal 
employees. Among all of those hard-working public servants, there are a 
few individuals who stand out for their commitment to doing the best 
possible job for the American people and who have the skills to get 
that job done. Today, I would like to recognize one of those 
individuals on the occasion of his retirement--Dr. Elbert W. ``Joe'' 
Friday, Jr., former director of the Department of Commerce's National 
Weather Service.
  Dr. Friday has given 38 years of outstanding service to this country. 
Twenty of those years were as a U.S. Air Force Weather Detachment 
Commander in Saigon, Vietnam, and Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, and as the 
Director of Environmental and Life Sciences in the Office of the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The remaining 
eighteen years were served in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA). During his tenure at NOAA, Joe served as 
associate administrator for both the National Weather Service and the 
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
  As the head of the National Weather Service, Joe has guided the 
agency through the most significant changes in its 200-year history. 
Weather service modernization has required the implementation of 
powerful new observational technologies, updated information and 
forecast systems, and a streamlined organizational structure. When 
complete, it will yield revolutionary advancements in our national 
public weather warning and forecast system. In fact, in recent years we 
have already begun to document dramatic improvements in the accuracy 
and timeliness of the Service's forecasts of weather events. For 
example, the Weather Service has lengthened the warning time for 
tornadoes from 6 minutes back in 1994 to 10 minutes today. That may not 
seem like a huge accomplishment, but it can mean the difference between 
life and death for individuals who are caught in a tornado's deadly 
path. Under Dr. Friday's leadership, we have also seen substantial 
improvements in the accuracy of predicting hurricane landfall, allowing 
local managers to make better and less costly evacuation plans and 
emergency preparations.
  In 1989, an anxious nation watched as Hurricane Hugo moved 
relentlessly towards the Southeastern coast. As we waited, there was 
one person, Joe Friday, that I could count on to answer my questions 
and provide accurate information for tracking the storm. During weather 
service modernization when local communities in every region raised 
concerns about the closing of weather stations and the placement of 
radars, one person, Joe Friday, sorted through the rumors, listened, 
and gave us straight information. In recent years, budgetary 
difficulties have provided Joe with some of his greatest challenges. 
However, he succeeded in protecting the National Hurricane Center and 
other essential programs from sweeping cutbacks that would have 
hampered the ability of the Weather Service to do its job.
  Last year, Joe moved over to NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, where he is responsible for environmental research and 
technology programs like Sea Grant and Climate and Global Change. These 
programs are critical for addressing such diverse issues as global 
warming, climate prediction, El Nino events, red tides, and Pfiesteria. 
I am sure that many at NOAA would echo my view when I say that I regret 
not being able to entice Dr. Friday to stay longer in his new position.
  Throughout his career, Joe Friday has shared credit for successes, 
but never blamed others for problems or difficulties. He is a rare mix 
of gifted scientist, decorated soldier, and eloquent speaker--a 
charismatic man who leads by example and has inspired a generation of 
men and women at the National Weather Service. His strong leadership, 
clear vision, loyalty, and concern for his colleagues were instrumental 
in creating an effective team of professionals. His simple but powerful 
philosophy has always been that, as a public servant, his 
responsibility is to provide the highest level of products and services 
to the people of the United States and the world. In all his endeavors, 
he has supplied endless energy, sound judgment, keen intelligence, and 
a sense of humor to the government he

[[Page S7216]]

is so proud to serve. It was no surprise to anyone when he was awarded 
the 1993 Federal Executive of the Year, an outstanding and well 
deserved recognition for his contributions.
  I am confident that I speak for many of my colleagues when I express 
admiration and thanks to Joe for his invaluable contributions to the 
United States of America and to the global scientific community. He has 
our best wishes and deepest gratitude for his accomplishments in his 38 
years of Federal Service.

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