Douglas Forsyth Chief, Radar Research & Development Division, NSSL Critical Skill Shortages Radar Meteorology

2 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Outline Importance Critical Skills Skill Shortages Current Attempts to Meet Shortages Recommendations Summary

3 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 WHY? Weather Radar Primary severe weather observational tool Used to issue warnings by the National Weather Service Used to avoid severe weather by the Federal Aviation Administration and pilots Used to display the location of precipitation and associated severe weather to the public

4 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Critical Skills To Continue to make advancements in weather Radar: Radar Meteorologists Radar Engineers – Hardest to find and Recruit Software Engineers Electronics Technicians

5 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Our NSSL/CIMMS Team Weather Radar Research Picture of the Team

6 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Electrical Engineers Limitiations: 1. U.S. Citizen 2. Salaries a. Most Master Degree students 1). Obtain higher pay from Industry 2). Don ’ t need to purse Doctorate Degree

7 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Addressing Shortages 1.Hiring post-Doctoral students 1. Boosted NRC Post-Doc Salaries to $70K 2.Hiring of Master ’ s Students 1. Support education opportunities to Doctoral level 3.Use Cooperative Institute for Foreign Nationals until they become US Citizens 4.Working to improve pay scales for Research Engineers 5.OU educational Program 1. Interdisciplinary – Engineering and Meteorology 2. Can ’ t fix with short-courses 6.Attractive Working environment 1. Cutting edge technologies (dual-polarization, Phased Array)

8 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Recommendations 1.Increase Pay Scales for Electrical Engineers (Critical Skills) 1. Adjust to University and Industry scales 2.Obtain Direct Hire authority for 0850 & 0855 Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

9 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Summary Radar is an important tool for observations and warnings of severe and hazardous weather Critical Skill Electrical & Electronics Engineers Shortages being addressed Post-Doc Programs Educational Opportunities OU producing qualified students locally Creative work environment Recommendations Increase salaries Direct Hire

10 Critical Skills Shortages April 23, 2009 Questions? Questions: THANK YOU