[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 102 (Monday, July 12, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S5739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. JAMES KIMPEL

 Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, today I honor Dr. James Kimpel who 
has served our government for the last 13 years as director of the NOAA 
National Severe Storms Laboratory, NSSL, in Norman, OK.
  Dr. Kimpel held the position of director, where he oversaw research 
in weather radar, technology transfer from research to applications, 
and forecast and warning improvements. The activities that Dr. Kimpel 
coordinated at NSSL helped save lives and property throughout the 
United States. During his tenure at the lab he provided the United 
States with devoted and visionary leadership.
  Through research and development during his 13 years as director, 
NSSL finished development of a Doppler weather radar technology that 
led to the birth of the national NEXRAD network, which consists of more 
than 150 radar systems. The NEXRAD network was also upgraded from 
proprietary to open systems, which enabled dual-polarization upgrades. 
These technological advancements will greatly increase precision when 
it comes to estimates of rainfall, delineation of rain from snow, and 
provide a more exact estimate of hail size. Since its installation, the 
NEXRAD program has reduced tornado related deaths by 45 percent and 
reduced personal injuries by 40 percent.
  Under the leadership of Dr. Kimpel, radar-based rainfall analyses 
were created to improve flash flood and river forecasting. He was also 
a key player in sparking interest and support for new facilities for 
NSSL that led to the construction of the National Weather Center 
building, which is shared by the National Weather Service and the 
meteorology enterprise at the University of Oklahoma.
  During Dr. Kimpel's watch as the director, NSSL scientists had over 
600 archival, refereed journals published, were granted three patents 
and participated in four cooperative research and development 
agreements with private companies. He also played a large role while at 
the University of Oklahoma as a full professor, dean of the College of 
Geosciences, provost, and senior vice president of the Norman campus.
  Dr. Kimpel's service to our country goes far beyond the NSSL. As a 
member of the U.S. Air Force, he served in Vietnam and earned the 
Bronze Star Medal for his acts of courage and valor. He was also 
elected president of the American Meteorological Society, received the 
University of Oklahoma Regents Alumni Award, and received the 
Presidential Rank Award-Meritorious Executive. He is a well-respected 
academic, researcher, and mentor. He is also the proud father of five 
children and a grandfather to two grandchildren.
  I give my highest regard to Dr. Kimpel and wish him the best. He has 
contributed much not only to the State of Oklahoma, but to the United 
States. The achievements and service of Dr. James F. Kimpel are worthy 
of celebration and commendation.

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