[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 30, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1619-E1620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. ROBERT M. WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 30, 2013

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the first 
Federal Coordinator for Meteorology and the first Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Dr. Robert M. 
White.
  Fifty years ago, the Bureau of the Budget issued a Circular to 
propose policy and procedures for the coordination of Federal 
meteorological services. In October of 1963, President John F. Kennedy 
appointed Dr. White to be chief of the U.S. Weather Bureau. Shortly 
thereafter in January of 1964, he became the first Federal Coordinator 
for Meteorology. Dr. White was the first and only Administrator of the 
Environmental Sciences Services Administration (ESSA) from 1965 to 
1970, and served as the founding Administrator of NOAA from 1970 to 
1977.
  Dr. White made groundbreaking contributions to the federal 
coordination of meteorology in the United States. He advocated for the 
expansion of numerical weather prediction techniques and advanced the 
practical use of global weather observing technology through the launch 
of the first two operational meteorological satellites. He advanced 
weather radar research and development on Doppler technology, providing 
the foundation for our current NEXRAD radar system. Furthermore, he led 
U.S. participation in the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) 
and directed research essential to the modernization and association 
restructuring of the National Weather Service.
  In 1978, at the request of the World Meteorological Organization, he 
chaired the first World Climate Conference in Geneva. After leaving 
Federal service, he was elected President of the National Academy of 
Engineering. He was awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental 
Achievement in 1992 for his contributions to global environmental 
science.
  I commend Dr. White for the profound vision he brought to his 
government service, which furthered our understanding of meteorology 
and the natural environment, including the oceans and marine resources.
    

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