Bill
Proenza is the former Director of the U.S.
National Hurricane Center
in Miami, part of
NWS.
A meteorology graduate of The Florida State University, Mr. Proenza began his
career in tropical meteorology in the mid 1960s at
NHC
and as a flight meteorologist on the "hurricane hunter" aircraft.
He continued his career within
NWS
for more than 35 years, receiving numerous performance commendations and awards,
including recognition from
NWSEO
as the
NWS
Manager of the Year for his collaborative leadership. Mr. Proenza has held a
diverse array of field and leadership positions and his meteorological experience
ranges from leadership in the modernization of weather services as well as
managing weather forecasting and severe weather warning services to providing
climate services. He rose through the ranks of
NWS
and held the position of Director of the most severe weather active area of our
Nation, the Southern Region, encompassing one quarter of the Nation, from New
Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma eastward all the way to Florida and on across the
Caribbean to include Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands from 1998 through 2006.
Through his experience in the southern, northern and eastern portions of the
nation, Mr. Proenza has gained a unique familiarity with many types of weather
from tropical to intense winter weather and severe local storms. Mr. Proenza is
a long standing member of
AMS,
NWA,
IAEM,
and
NEMA.
In 2001,
AMS
recognized him with its prestigious
Francis W. Reichelderfer Award
for outstanding environmental services to the nation and in 2003, he was
conferred the prestigious status of
Fellow of the AMS.
In 2006, he was elected to the leadership of
AMS
as a Counselor. Mr. Proenza is an internationally recognized meteorologist and
has represented the U.S. Government across the Caribbean Basin. In 2006 and 2007,
he headed the United States Delegations to
UNESCO
meetings on tsunamis and the oceans. Mr. Proenza is also the chairman of the
UN's
WMO's
Hurricane Committee, which supports 26 member nations in the Americas.
