Kenneth Graham was named as the next National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assistant administrator for weather services and the 17th director of the National Weather Service.
NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said he has full confidence in Graham to help create a more climate- and weather-ready nation as the changing climate fuels more extreme weather, according to a June 7 news release.
“Ken has the scientific integrity, trusted leadership and communication prowess that will take the National Weather Service to even greater heights,” Spinrad said, according to the release.
Graham said it was an incredible honor it is to serve alongside the heroes of the National Weather Service, and thanked Spinrad for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading this team, the release said.
“We’ll accomplish great things together by building on recent progress and prioritizing support of our forecasters. I can’t wait to get started,” Graham said in the release.
Mary Erickson, who was the acting director of the National Weather Service from January until Graham’s appointment, will resume her position as the agency’s deputy director, the release reported.
She said Graham is highly respected across the agency as “an inspirational leader, tireless builder of trusted partnerships and consummate champion of the workforce,” the release said.
