Staff and Position Descriptions

Meteorologist In Charge (MIC): The MIC is in charge of the Weather Service Forecast Office (WFO). The MIC's job includes administrative duties, personnel management, and operational oversight of meteorological services. The MIC can also fill in as a forecaster, if needed.

Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM): The WCM is one of the most public positions in the forecast office. The WCM coordinates all warning functions of the office including spotter training and being a voice to the local media.

Science Operations Officer (SOO): The SOO serves as the office's principal and senior scientific advisor and is in charge of training for all employees. The SOO makes sure that all hydrometeorological products and services provided by our office meet local, regional, and national NWS standards.

Electronic Systems Analyst (ESA): The ESA is in charge of overseeing the maintenance of all equipment in the forecast office. This includes maintaining the local area network, AWIPS system administration, heating and cooling equipment, ASOS, upper air, and radar instruments.

Information Technology Officer (ITO):The ITO serves as a software and information technology expert with responsibility in three primary areas: application development/integration, information technology management, and systems analysis. The ITO provides overall guidance and coordination for the computer-related focal points. In addition, the ITO’s function encompasses computer programming, software installation, documentation, and troubleshooting of computer code. The ITO localizes applications on mission critical systems such as AWIPS, LDAD, and CRS in conjunction with any focal points.

Observing Program Leader (OPL): The OPL ensures that a full range of technincal support and assistance is provided for WFO operations and other basic activities, especially the incorporation of timely, high quality observational data into WFO forecast and warning decision-making processes.

Administrative Support Assistant (ASA): The ASA performs a wide range of administrative functions for the management team; this can include performing technical aspects of all administrative programs and activities for the office related to budget, funds control, purchasing, procurement requests, contract monitoring, bankcard, property, vehicles, travel, training, personnel actions, time and attendance, mail, and maintaining office supplies and equipment.

Meteorological Intern and Hydrometeorological Technician (HMT): The Meteorological Intern and the HMT essentially serve the same position. The Hydrometeorological Technician serves as a senior technician for a Weather Service office performing the following duties: provides weather advice and guidance; analyzes and evaluates local synoptic scale and mesoscale weather and hydrological data; collects, analyzes, interprets and provides recommendations on the data quality; establishes relationships with and communicates with a variety of officials and sources of information; assists on radar surveillance using the NEXRAD system, activating and using appropriate diagnostic procedures to ensure data is disseminated to all authorized users; and issues scheduled and unscheduled weather forecast products.

Electronics Technician (ET): Electronics/Engineering services are vital to the National Weather Service’s increasing equipment-oriented activities. Approximately 9,000 individual electronics equipment and systems are presently used in support of the NWS field operations. Maintenance of essential equipment is performed by over 400 field based technicians at over 300 stations throughout the United States including its territories.

Meteorologists: National Weather Service meteorologists are invloved in aviation forecasting, fire weather forecasting, general forecasting, radar meteorology. Other activities include studies of local forecasting problems, public preparedness, and informational programs. Most forecast offices operate 24 hours a day on rotating shifts.