Donald H. (Don) Berchoff, MA, MS

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Don Berchoff is Director of the Office of Science and Technology in NOAA's National Weather Service He is responsible for science and technology infusion into the National Weather Service including science and engineering planning, acquisition and refresh of critical technologies, and development of scientific techniques for NWS operations. Mr. Berchoff joined the NWS after a 24 year career in the United States Air Force. He has six years of field forecasting experience and is a specialist in East Coast and aviation weather, logging over 300 flight hours as an airborne meteorologist. He also has extensive experience in developing, re-engineering, and leading large operational weather centers including designing, advocating and managing large science and technology programs. He has held management and senior level executive positions at all echelons of the military and has extensive experience outside the field of meteorology. Mr. Berchoff led the Afghanistan military policy and strategy office on the Joint Staff, assisting the Chairman and Secretary of Defense in building and sustaining Afghan security forces and developing military policy and strategy for the theater of operations. He was also the base commander at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan responsible for executing reception, staging and onward movement operations for over 100,000 Coalition military personnel deploying into and out of Afghanistan and providing fuel to 7,500 aircraft conducting combat air refueling missions over Afghanistan. In his year at Manas, Mr. Berchoff led over 4,000 military personnel over three air expeditionary force transitions in providing base defense; contracting services; lodging, dining, and airfield services; base development and sustainment; communications; and off-base humanitarian activities. He has a proven record of success developing and executing advanced programs with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the State Department. He has been heavily involved in advocating, developing, and managing science and technology policies and programs through the federal programming and budgeting process. He also has international executive leadership and diplomatic experience. Mr. Berchoff has an M.S. degree in national security strategy from the national defense university, an M.A. degree in procurement and acquisition management from Webster University, and a B.S. degree in meteorology (honors) from the State University of New York. A native of New York, Mr. Berchoff resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife Patricia and son Michael.