NWA Annual Awards Program

NWA ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM​

 NWA Annual Awards are accepted all year.

For additional information on the Annual Awards Program and to provide suggestions for consideration, contact the Awards Committee at awardschair@nwas.org, or the NWA office at 405-701-5167 or nwahelp@nwas.org.

The 2023 Recipients have been announced. Nominations are being accepted for the 2024 awards. Use the link below to submit a nomination. 

A few of the 2023 Award Winners.

Nomination Procedures

We invite you to nominate individuals, teams or organizations whose outstanding efforts in operational meteorology and related sciences deserve special recognition.

To make a nomination, review the award categories below and determine the award category that best fits. Select that category on the Awards Nomination Form, complete and submit the form. You are welcome to submit more than one nomination, although please choose only one award for each specific group or individual. Nominations can be made at any time, but please remember to submit prior to the yearly deadline (right side of page) for consideration for that particular year.

Although there is no rigid time requirement for the awards, it is preferred that the accomplishment, if not on a continuing basis, occur within 18 months prior to the nominations. Self-nominations will not be accepted. If the nomination is not selected as the winner, it will remain a valid nomination for two additional years unless the nominee(s) are no longer in positions applicable to the award. The nomination may be updated by the submitter in each of those additional two years. Names of previous winners and additional award information are shown below.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Click on “Examples” to get ideas for your own nominations and citations.

Operational Achievement Individual Award: This award is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to operational meteorology (e.g., an accurate and timely forecast for one or more significant weather events or for long-period achievement). Examples.

Operational Achievement Group Award: This award is presented to a group of two or more individuals for a significant contribution to operational meteorology. Examples.

Member of the Year Award: This award is presented to a NWA member who has made significant contributions to the organization over a period of time.

The Dr. T. Theodore Fujita Research Achievement Award: This award is presented to a NWA member whose research has made a significant contribution to operational meteorology. Examples.

Walter J. Bennett Public Service Award: This award is presented to an individual or organization directly assisting the meteorological community in providing weather-related information to the public. Individuals and organizations in the meteorological profession are ineligible for this award. Examples.

Public Education Award: This award is presented to an individual or organization providing significant contributions to increase the public’s weather awareness. Examples.

Broadcaster of the Year Award: This award is presented to a NWA member Radio or Television weathercaster, or other member of the broadcast media, whose activities have significantly contributed to the development and presentation of weather information to the public service. Radio and Television weathercaster candidates must be current NWA Seal of Approval holders and have had the NWA Seal of Approval for at least one year prior to being nominated for this award. Examples.

Aviation Meteorology Award: This award is presented to an individual or group to recognize significant contributions to aviation meteorology, such as impact of operational forecasts on aviation operations or advances in aviation meteorology including research in detection and forecasting of aviation hazards. Examples.

Local Chapter Award: This award is presented to a Local Chapter of the NWA whose activities have significantly increased awareness of the weather and of the NWA in their local area. Examples.

The Larry R. Johnson Special Award: This award is presented to an individual or a group to recognize unique events or extraordinary accomplishments, which significantly contributed to operational meteorology. Examples.

J. Kevin Lavin Leadership Award: This new award recognizes those who exemplify the highest qualities of effective and honorable leadership which significantly strengthened an organization.

Special Awards: Four special awards are designated for individuals or groups — The Special Lifetime Achievement Award, Special Achievement Award, Special Appreciation Award, and Lifetime Membership Award. Contact the Awards Committee Chair directly if you are interested in nominating an individual or group for any of these special awards.

Program Information

The National Weather Association began its annual awards program in 1977 to provide deserved recognition to those involved in operational activities and promote excellence in operational meteorology and related activities. The NWA Annual Awards Program recognizes the professional as well as the volunteer. The emphasis is on the people who perform the day-to-day tasks of providing meteorological information and support services to the public. The Program was revised in 1988 to add three more categories and in 1990 to rename the Public Service Award to the Walter J. Bennett Public Service Award. Walter Bennett, a US Weather Bureau forecaster, provided extraordinary service spanning fifty years. In 1991, a Special Award was added to honor the 1690th Group of the Air Weather Service of the US Air Force for their operational weather support deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm in the Middle East. In 1996, two more award categories were added; an Aviation Meteorology Award and a Local NWA Chapter Award. The nominations for the Operational Achievement Award were separated into two sections: Individual and Group. In addition, the Radio-TV Broadcaster of the Year Award was merged with the Media Award and named the Broadcaster of the Year Award. In 1998, the Special Award nomination was also modified and named in honor of Larry R. Johnson, a founding member of the NWA and President of the NWA for 1995 who died of cancer. In 2000, the Research Achievement Award was named after Dr. T. Theodore Fujita. These changes will hopefully generate increased interest in the Awards Program and provide the organization greater flexibility in recognizing the accomplishments of the many individuals, groups and agencies involved in operational meteorology and related activities.

History of Annual Award Categories and Award Winners

Click on a category to expand it, click again to collapse.

This award is presented to an NWA member who has made a significant contribution to operational meteorology or a related field. It can be for a forecast of a significant weather event. It could also be for outstanding work of an individual over a defined period of time. Initially this award was for the Forecaster of the Year. Award winners are:

2022 — Dan McKemy
2020 — Samuel H. Coleman
2019 — Justin Pullin
2017 — Elliot Abrams
2016 — Lance Wood
2015 — Thomas Hultquist
2014 — Lans Rothfusz
2013 — Richard Smith
2012 — Daryl Herzmann
2011 — Eric Wise
2010 — Timothy W. Garner
2009 — Karl Silverman
2008 — John Feldt
2007 — Michael E. Umscheid
2006 — Robert Ricks
2005 — Dr. Pablo Santos, Jr.
2004 — Dr. Joel N. Myers
2003 — Willis Bryan Owings
2002 — Patrick T. Welsh
2001 — Elizabeth Quoetone
2000 — Steven Piltz
1999 — David Andra
1998 — John A. Hart
1997 — George R. Wilken
1996 — Russell L. Pfost
1995 — Richard J. Kane
1994 — Edward D. Priselac
1993 — Patrick L. Burek
1992 — USAF Weather Flight, 384 OSS/ACC, McConnell AFB, KS
1991 — Ernest Ethridge
1990 — Robert E. Bell
1989 — David M. Booth
Walter H. Drag
1988 — Michael K. Kennedy
Richard Naistat
1987 — Charlie Liles
Robert Fischer
1986 — Steven J. Weiss
Carl L. Peabody
1985 — Edward D. Priselac
1984 — David Goldstein
1983 — Brian Korty
1982 — James Clarke
Norman Junker
Phillip Poole
Cadesman Pope, Jr.
1981 — No award given
1980 — Thomas Crossan
1979 — Robert G. Behm
1978 — Albert C. Flahive

This award is presented to an individual or group to recognize significant contributions to aviation meteorology such as: impacts of operational forecasts on aviation operations and advances in aviation meteorology including research in detection and forecasting of aviation hazards. Award winners are:

2022 –Hazard Services Development Team at NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
2021 –NOAA Global Systems Laboratory Assimilation and Verification Innovation Division
2019 — Fed Ex Weather Services
2018 — NCAR Research Applications Laboratory – Bruce Carmichael
2017 — Judy E. Ghirardelli
2016 — NWS Center Weather Service Unit New York
2015 — NWS Center Weather Service Unit and NWS Weather Forecast Office Memphis
2014 — Mike Eckert and Brandon Smith, National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center/FAA Command Center
2013 — National Weather Service WFO/CWSU Albuquerque, NM
2012 — Brian Schoettmer
2011 — NOAA/NWS Center Weather Service Unit Atlanta, Georgia
NOAA/National Weather Service Forecast Office Peachtree City, Georgia
2010 — National Weather Service New York City Forecast Office, NWS Eastern Region Headquarters,
Bohemia, New York, and NWS Center Weather Service Unit, Ronkonkoma, New York
2009 — Sally Pavlow Johnson
2008 — Brian Pettegrew and the University of Missouri-Columbia Forecast Team
2007 — Robert O. Baron — President and Founder of Baron Services, Inc.
2006 — Newton Skiles, Christopher Buonanno, and Paul Iñiguez
2005 — Members of the Technology Exploitation Branch, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Weather Agency
(R. Bruce Telfeyan, Daniel M. Rozema, Jennifer C. Roman, Lee A. Byerle, James E. McMullen, Stephen M.
Riehart, Gordon R. Brooks, David L. Keller, Jeramie Lippman, Angela D. Oder, Jeremy J. Wesley, Evan L.
Kuchera, Ingrid A. Gotchel, Scott A. Rentschler, Steven E. Harris, David J. Hladky, Patrick A. Therien,
Jason A. Smith, and Jonathan M. Garner)
2004 — Combined Team of NOAA/NWS Center Weather Service Unit, Fort Worth, Texas (Tom Amis, James
Ott, Charles Hays and Doug Reno) and the NOAA/Forecast Systems Laboratory, Aviation Division, Boulder,
Colorado (Lynn Sherretz, Greg Pratt, Dennis Rodgers, Jim Frimel, Young Chun, Lisa Gifford, Chris Masters
and Doug Ohlhorst)
2003 — The NOAA/National Weather Service staff of the FAA Training Academy
2002 — The Federal Aviation Administration’s Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP)
2001 — Timothy H. Miner and Timothy Oram
2000 — Carolyn M. Kloth
1998 — Christine L. Alex, Howard J. Diamond and Raymond M. Downs,
NOAA/NWS Headquarters, Silver Spring, MD
1997 — Aviation Operations Branch and Aviation Support Branch,
Aviation Weather Center, NWS, Kansas City, MO
1996 — Thomas M. Hicks, Meteorologist in Charge,
Center Weather Service Unit, Fort Worth, Texas

This award is presented to an individual or organization directly assisting the meteorological community in providing weather-related information to the public. Individuals and organizations in the meteorological profession are ineligible for this award. The NWA Public Service Award was named in honor of Walter J. Bennett in 1990. Award winners are:

2021 – Fernando Berjano
2020 — Michael Wilhelm (Posthumous)
2019 — Bedarius Bell Jr.
2018 — Laura Pysz
2017 — City of Austin Watershed Department
2016 — David Drobny and William Minkoff
2015 — Suzanne Katschke
2014 — Sara Stone of CenterPoint Energy and Jackie Miller of the City of Houston
2013 — Nancy Gaarder
2012 — John Wetter
2011 — Perry McEwen
2010 — Bob Pickering, Flagler County Emergency Management, Bunnell, Florida
2009 — Sparkle Anderson, Centerpoint Energy, Inc.
2008 — Roy Sedwick, Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin, Texas
2007 — KOSA-TV CBS-7 Midland, Texas
2006 — Wade D. (Danny) Hampton, NOAA Weather Radio Maintenance Contractor, Raleigh, North Carolina
2005 — Leslie Chapman-Henderson and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)
2004 — John Fleck, a science writer for the Albuquerque Journal in Albuquerque, New Mexico
2003 — Medina Electric Cooperative, Inc., of Hondo, Texas
2002 — The South Plains Storm Spotting Team of Lubbock, Texas
2001 — Jim Robinson, Mike Fliefel, and Robert Timmons, Houston, Texas, Emergency Managers Weather Information
Network
2000 — Bowling Green / Warren County Office of Emergency Management
1999 — Amateur Radio SKYWARN Team, Fort Worth, TX (Michael Haskett & Greg Story accepted)
Albert H. Gull, Cooperative Weather Observer, Edgemont, SD
1998 — Randy S. Johnson, Amateur Radio Operator and SKYWARN volunteer, Orlando, FL
1997 — Park Owens, Emergency Manager, Pennington County and Rapid City, South Dakota
1996 — Michael Sprague, Civil Defense Director, Steuben County, New York
1995 — State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
1994 — U.S. Forest Service, Talkeetna Ranger Station, Alaska
1993 — Colonel Rodney Jackson, President Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Police Association
1992 — Josephine Dyas, Seattle, Washington – marine radio relay of observations/forecasts
1991 — Peggy Jo Dyson, Kodiak, Alaska – marine radio broadcasts for North Pacific
Jack Wilson, Director of Boise Idaho Interagency Fire Center
1990 — Mark Lange, WZDM Radio, Vincennes, Indiana
PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD (initially this award was for Contribution to Meteorology by a Civilian and Contribution to Meteorology by an Organization)

1989 — Frank Savat, Jr. and J. D. Alexander, amateur radio operators for AR-LA-OK-TX Storm Spotter Group
1988 — Carl Carlos, Civil Defense Director, Jones County, Mississippi
The Division of Emergency Management of The State of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Auburn, Alabama
1987 — James Jeffrey, Midland, Texas
KARE-TV, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, Austin, Texas
1986 — Gerald E. Murphy, Net Controller for Lake Erie Amateur Radio Association
Radio Station KRPL, Moscow, Idaho
1985 — Wilson F. Sellner
AK-SAR-BEN amateur radio club, Omaha, Nebraska
1984 — Harold K. Whitaker, Lighthouse Keeper, Cape Ann Light Station, Thatcher Island, Massachusetts
Bureau of Land Management, Boise, Idaho
1983 — Steven Hatch, Flash Flood Spotter, Tooele, Utah
Cape Fisherman’s Supply, Inc., Chatham, Massachusetts
1982 — Ray Evans and Paul Freeman, Illinois State Highway Patrolmen
Miami Valley FM Association (MVFM), Dayton, Ohio
1981 — Dale Marsh, Flash Flood Spotter, Escalante, Utah
Civil Defense Region 26, Communications Center, Taylor, Nebraska
1980 — Edward J. Dougherty, Amateur Radio Operator, Frederick, Maryland
The American Broadcasting Company, New York for Good Morning America
1979 — R. B. “Pat” Shreve, Amateur Radio Operator, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Brooklyn, New York
1978 — Dayton L Phifer, Amateur Radio Operator, Western Nebraska Amateur Radio Net
San Antonio Repeater Organization (volunteer radio operators), San Antonio, Texas
1977 — National Broadcasting Company’s Today Show, New York

This award is presented to an NWA member who as a Radio and/or TV weathercaster, or other member of the media has significantly contributed to the development and presentation of weather information to the public. Award winners are:

2021 – Betsy Kling
2019 — Lelan Statom
2018 — Amy Sweezey
2017 — Travis Herzog
2016 — Ryan Vaughan
2015 — Lisa Spencer
2014 — Mike Bettes
2013 — Brian Lapis
2012 — James Spann
2011 — Ted Schmidt
2010 — Mike Nelson
2009 — Bryan Karrick
2008 — David Freeman
2007 — Chuck Lofton
2006 — Kevin Janison
2005 — Rich Apuzzo
2004 — Rob Guarino
2003 — John Toohey-Morales
2002 — Lori Pinson
2001 — Jay Trobec
2000 — Greg A. Padgett
1999 — Sandra D. Thomson
1998 — John B. McLaughlin
1997 — Susan M. Palka
1996 — Elliot Abrams
1995 — Jim W. Spencer
1994 — Chris Wright
1993 — Mike Lyons
1992 — Dave Freeman
1991 — Steve Devine
Paul Joseph
1990 — Rob Fowler
1989 — Erik Salna
1988 — Troy Kimmell
Ron Young
Kirk Melhuish

1979 — Jerrold A. LaRue, Founder and Executive Director, NWA

2001 — Stephen W. Harned and all members of the NWS Forecast Office, Raleigh, North Carolina
In grateful appreciation for their time and talents in planning and organizing all the activities
associated with the NWA 25th anniversary celebration

— Kent Ehrhardt, Jay Prater, and Dave Freeman, Chairman of the Broadcast Meteorology Committee
For their dedication leadership in markedly improving the credibility of the NWA Seal of Approval
Program and for their exemplary commitment to quality weather broadcasting

2000 — Jerrold A. LaRue
In Grateful Appreciation for founding this all inclusive member, operationally-oriented organization
and establishing solid objectives.
— Sol Hirsch
The Top Member of the Year for the organization’s first 25 years
— Dr. T. Theodore Fujita
Presented to the Family of the Late Dr. T. Theodore Fujita in grateful appreciation for his being
The top research achievement award winner in the organization
— Norman W. Junker, Philip A. Poole, Cadesman Pope, Jr., and the late James W. Clarke
The top operational achievement award winnners for the organization’s first 25 years
— Dr. Elbert W. “Joe” Friday, Jr.
In grateful appreciation to a charter member continually providing outstanding contributions
to the organization and leading an unparalleled modernization of the U.S. National Weather Service.

This award is presented to more than one individual (a team) for a specific event or for displaying excellence over a defined period of time. Award winners are:

2022 – NOAA NWS Weather Prediction Center
2021 – Peter Wolf  and Dr. Ariel Cohen
2021 – National Weather Service Forecast Office of Boulder, Colorado
2020 — David Rudack (NWS/MDL/Statistical Modeling Branch)
2019 — National Weather Service Forecast Office Tallahassee, FL
2018 — National Weather Service Forecast Office Houston, TX
2017 – National Weather Service Forecast Office Las Vegas, NV
2016 — National Weather Service Forecast Offices Springfield and St. Louis, MO
2015 – Thomas Hultquist
2014 — National Weather Service Forecast Office Springfield, MO
2013 — National Weather Service Forecast Office Binghamton, NY
2012 — Members of the Warning Decision Training Branch
2011 — Phillip Bothwell, John Hart, Corey Mead and Richard Thompson
2010 — Kenneth Graham, Timothy Destri, Patricia Brown, Francida Moore, Robert Ricks and Timothy Erickson
2009 — Daniel Koch, Tabitha Clarke and John Lewis III
2008 — Jason F. Beaman and Daniel Valle
2007 — NOAA/NWS Forecast Office, Huntsville, Alabama
2006 — The personnel of the NOAA/National Weather Service Offices in Slidell, LA; Mobile, AL; Jackson, MS;
Birmingham, AL; and Huntsville, AL, and the NWS Southern Region Regional Operations Center
2005 — James M. Caruso and Jonathan M. Davies
2004 — Barry Baxter, Kim Brabander, Eric Christensen, Wayne Colin, Robert Handel, Guy Rader and Pablo Santos
2003 — Tim Oram, Tim Garner and Richard Lafosse
2002 — Patrick Murphy and John Taylor
2001 — Jere Gallup, Jack Gross, Russell Pfost, and Guy Rader
2000 — Kenneth D. LaPenta & Jonathan L. Blaes
1999 — The Staff at the NWS Forecast Office, Pittsburgh, PA
1998 — Bartlett C. Hagemeyer, David W. Sharp and Scott M. Spratt
1997 — Scott L. Whittier & William E. Murray
1996 — Edward A. Mahoney & Thomas A. Niziol

This award is presented to an NWA member whose research has made a significant contribution to operational meteorology. The Research Achievement Award was named in honor of Dr. T. Theodore Fujita in the year 2000. Dr. Fujita was a charter member and the first to be awarded the Research Achievement Award. Award winners are:

2022 – Dr. William Gallus
2021 – Dr. Pamela Heinselman
2018 — Kristopher Sanders and Brian Barjenbruch
2017 — Richard Thompson
2016 — Greg Carbin
2015 — Mid-Atlantic and Southeast CSTAR Group Jonathan Blaes (NWS Raleight) and Gary Lackmann (North Carolina State University)
2014 — Matthew Bunkers
2013 — Paul Markowski
2012 — Charles E. Graves
Chad Gravelle
2011 — Timothy Schmit
2010 — Professor John Knox
2009 — Richard Grumm
2008 — Ronald L. Holle
2007 — Dr. Rodger A. Brown
2006 — Gary P. Ellrod
2005 — No award given
2004 — Stephen F. Corfidi
2003 — Ron W. Przybylinski
2002 — Norman W. “Wes” Junker
2001 — Robert H. Johns
2000 — James T. Moore

This award is presented to a Local Chapter of the NWA whose activities have significantly increased awareness of the weather and of the NWA in their local area. Award winners are:

2022 – Western Kentucky University Student Chapter
2021 – Central Iowa Chapter of the National Weather Association
2020 — University of Oklahoma Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association (OU SCAN)
2019 — East Mississippi Chapter
2018 — Southeast Texas/Southwest Louisiana
2017 — NWA/AMS Alpha Theta Chapter, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2016 — North Florida NWA Chapter
2015 — Northwest Indiana Student Chapter of AMS & NWA
2014 — Middle Tennessee NWA Chapter
2013 — North Florida NWA Chapter
2012 — Central Alabama NWA Local Chapter
2011 — High Plains AMS/NWA Local Chapter (XI)
2010 — Three Rivers Chapter, California University of Pennsylvania
2009 — Lyndon State College Student Chapter
2008 — High Plains Chapter
2007 — Three Rivers Chapter, California University of Pennsylvania
2006 — Central Iowa NWA Chapter, Des Moines, Iowa
2005 — East Mississippi NWA (Alpha) Chapter, Mississippi State University
2004 — No award given
2003 — The High Plains NWA & AMS Chapter, western Oklahoma and western/central Kansas and Nebraska
2002 — The Southern New England NWA Chapter, Taunton, Massachusetts
2001 — Central Iowa NWA Chapter, Des Moines, Iowa
1999 — Arkansas Local Chapter, Little Rock, Arkansas
1997 — Central Iowa NWA Chapter, Des Moines, Iowa
1996 — West Central Texas NWA (Theta) Chapter, Abilene, Texas

This award is presented to an individual or a group for recognition of unique events or extraordinary accomplishments which significantly contributed to operational meteorology. Award winners are:

2022 – Hazard Services Development Team at NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
2021 – NWS Warning Decision Training Division
2020 — Alex DeSmet and the Idaho Pathfinder Group
2019 — Jordan Gerth and Scott Lindstrom
2018 — University of Oklahoma CIMMS
2017 — National Weather Service Operations Proving Ground
2016 — Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies
2015 — The Hazardous Weather Testbed – The Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS), NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, Weather Forecast Office Oklahoma City/Norman, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
2014 — NWS Southern Region SWAN Team Members Alex Gibbs, Doug Gaer, Pablo Santos, and Tony Freeman.
2013 — Oklahoma Mesonet
2012 — Members of the NOAA/NWS Forecast Offices at: Jackson, MS; Birmingham, AL; Huntsville, AL and Memphis, TN
2011 — NOAA/NWS Ohio River Forecast Center, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Water
Management Division and The Ohio River Community Modeling Team (Wilmington, Ohio)
2010 — Keith Stellman
2009 — John Brent Wachter
2008 — National Weather Service Forecast Office, Lubbock, Texas and West Texas Mesonet at Texas Tech University
2007 — NOAA/NWS Forecast Office, Lake Charles, Louisiana
2006 — Applied Meteorology Unit, Kennedy Space Center, Florida (Francis J. Merceret, Mark M. Wheeler, Winifred
C. Lambert, Jonathan L. Case, David A. Short, and William H. Bauman III)
2005 — The Staff of the National Weather Service Forecast Office, Melbourne, Florida
2004 — Members of the NOAA/NWS Forecast Office, Midland, Texas (Ray Fagen, Doug Cain, Jack Ciccone, Brian
Curran, Jeffrey Cupo, James DeBerry, Eric Platt, Patrick Vesper, Thomas Lindley, Cody Lindsey, Alexander
Lyster, Greg Murcoch, Seth Nagle, and Gregory Jackson)
2003 — NEXRAD Archive Recovery Project Team comprised of personnel from NWS/Warning Decision Training Branch,
NWS/Radar Operations Center and Team RS Information Systems
2002 — Iowa Environmental Mesonet at Iowa State University, KCCI-TV and NWS Forecast Office, Des Moines, Iowa
2001 — The NWS Radar Web Display Project Team of Susan Beckwith, Jack Bushong, Dennis Cain, Jeff Cotterman,
Jay R. del Cano, Allan Darling, Roland Devoe, Mary Desjardins, John Feldt, William Gery, Thomas H.
Grayson, David Kitzmiller, Janet Miller, Robin Miller, Larry Mooney, Frederick R. Mosher, William P.
Murray, Thomas Piper, David Ruth, Joe Sullivan, Fortune Vilcko, Ken Waters, Peter Weiss, and David Zaff
2000 — Norman W. “Wes” Junker
1999 — The Staff of the NWS Office, Tiyan, Guam
1998 — Paul J. Hebert
SPECIAL AWARD: This award is presented to an individual or a group for recognition of unique events or extraordinary accomplishments which significantly contributed to operational meteorology. It was named in honor of Larry R. Johnson in 1998. Award winners are:
1997 — NOAA System Acquisition Office and NEXRAD Joint System Program Office, Silver Spring, Maryland
1996 — Dr. James F. W. Purdom
1995 — LeRoy E. Spayd
1994 — John B. Lovegrove
1993 — NOAA/NWS Forecast Office, Birmingham, Alabama
1992 — NOAA/NWS Forecast Office, Norman, Oklahoma
1991 — USAF, 1690th Weather Group, Air Weather Service

2015 — Troy Nicolini
2013 — Jane Cage
2012 — Patrick Market
Bill Read
2009 — Dr. Joseph Schaefer
2007 — J. Kevin Lavin — NWA Executive Director Emeritus

2022 — Barbra Watson
2020 — Elliot Abrams
2017 — Stephen Corfidi
2017 — Joel Myers
2017 — Steve Weiss
2013 — Charles A. Doswell III
2012 — Lance F. Bosart, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY
2011 — John (Jack) Hales
Josh Korotky
2010 — Leslie (Les) Lemon, Basic Commerce & Industries, CIMMS, and L.R. Lemon Meteorological Services
Independence, Missouri
2007 — Dr. C. Donald Ahrens, Modesto College, California
2006 — David B. Gilhousen, retired from NOAA/National Data Buoy Center, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi
Dr. Roderick A. Scofield (posthumously); NOAA/NESDIS Satellite Meteorologist, Camp Springs, Maryland
(NWA President 2000)
Dr. James T. Moore (posthumously), Professor, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri (NWA
President 1999)
2004 — Dr. Gandikota V. Rao (posthumously), Professor, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri
2002 — Vernon F. Dvorak, retired from NOAA/NESDIS and now resides in Ojai, CA

2022 —  Ben Terry
2022 — US National Weather Service New Orleans Louisiana
2020 —  Dr. Kandis Y. Boyd, PMP
2020 — Weather Forecast Office – Shreveport, LA
2017 — Trisha Palmer & NWA Webinar Team
2012 — John Ferree, NOAA/NWS/OCWWS, Norman, OK; Matthew Bunkers, Chair, NWA Publications Committee, NOAA/NWS,
Rapid City, SD and Katie Crandall, Laurel McCoy, and Mike Madden, University of Missouri-Columbia,
Columbia, MO
2007 — NOAA/National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETS)
2006 — Robert O. Baron, President and Founder of Baron Services, Inc.
2003 — Developers of the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN)

2022 — Dr. Anthony Lupo at Mizzou
2020 — Tim Brice (NWS El Paso) and the National School Outreach Team
2020 — Joby Smith (Bay County, FL Emergency Management Division)
2017 — Bill Murray, 2016 WeatherReady Fest
2009 — Cynthia A. Nelson, outstanding service 2004–2009 as 1st NWA Assistant Executive Director, Lakeville, NY
1996 — Henry “Hank” W. Brandli, Satellite Meteorologist, Melbourne, Florida

Special Achievement Award
2015 — Betsy Kling
In recognition of over a decade of service organizing and operating the NWA Scholarship
Golf Outing and Raffle to raise funds for NWA Scholarship. Her time and talent are
greatly appreciated.

2015 — Jeffrey S. Tongue and Eleanor Vallier-Talbot
To recognize their years of dedication administering the NWA Scholarship and Grant Program to
further meteorology and related science education through scholarships for students and grants
for educators.

This award is presented to an NWA member who has made significant contributions to the organization over a long period of time. Award winners are:

2022 – John Banghoff
2021 – Rebecca Mazur, Betsy Kling, Matt Alto and Wendy Sellers
2020 — Morgan Barry
2019 — Pat Spoden
2018 — Mike Goldberg
2017 — Trevor Boucher
2016 — Ken Carey
2015 — Winifred C. Crawford
2014 — Bruce Thomas
2013 — Matthew Bunkers
2012 — John Gordon
2011 — Janice Bunting
2010 — Mike Vescio
2009 — Dr. John R. Scala
2008 — David I. Knapp
2007 — Dr. Peter B. Roohr
2006 — Steve Listemaa
2005 — Alan E. Gerard, Jeffrey P. Craven, and Steven V. Vasiloff
2004 — Betsy Kling
2003 — Andrew H. Horvitz
2002 — G. Alan Johnson
2001 — Timothy H. Miner
2000 — Bernard N. Meisner
1999 — John McLaughlin
1998 — C.W. “Bill” Tazewell
Stacy L. Bunin
1997 — Mark S. Binkley
1996 — William “Bill” Read
1995 — Floyd F. Hauth
1994 — Stephen W. Harned
1993 — Kent Ehrhardt
1992 — Thomas H. Grayson
Robert A. Maddox
Steven J. Weiss
1991 — Kenneth C. Crawford
1990 — X. William Proenza
1989 — Jerrold A. LaRue
1988 — H. Michael Mogil
1987 — Mark D. Shulman
1986 — George L. Frederick, Jr.
1985 — Philip A. Calabrese
1984 — Brian G. Smith
1983 — No award given
1982 — Sol Hirsch
1981 — Dennis H. McCarthy
1980 — Dorothy Kropp
1979 — Rolf Nilsestuen
1978 — Anthony T. Tancreto
1977 — Frances Parmenter Holt

This award is presented to an NWA member whose research has made a significant contribution to operational meteorology. Initially this award was for the Academic Person Contributing to the Advance of Applied Meteorology. Award winners are:

1999 — John Quinlan
1998 — Steven E. Koch
1997 — Frank Smigielski
1996 — Louis W. Uccellini
1995 — Charles A. Doswell III
1994 — Eric A. Thaler
1993 — Robert S. Davis
1992 — Richard J. Kane
1991 — John A. Hart
William Korotky
1990 — Gary P. Ellrod
Thomas A. Niziol
1989 — James J. Gurka
Ronald W. Przybylinski
1988 — Edward B. Mortimer
1987 — William L. Read
1986 — Gary M. Carter
Roderick Scofield
1985 — Hazen Bedke
James G. Stobie
1984 — Don Devore
Jerry Hunt
Larry Ruth
1983 — John Stackpole
1982 — Leonard Snellman
1981 — Robert Maddox
1980 — Terry Tarbell
1979 — John J. Cahir
1978 — T. T. Fujita

This award is presented to an individual, group or organization providing significant contributions to increase the public’s weather awareness. Award winners are:

2022 – Spectrum News 13 Weather
2021 – James Hocker
2020 — NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) Riverton, Wyoming, Outreach Team
2018 — Dr. Ken Dewey
2017 — Jennifer M. Saari
2017 — Steven R. Pfaff
2017 — Suzanne M. Fortin
2017 — Trevor M. Boucher
2016 — Maria Torres
2015 — Jason Lindsey, Hooked on Science
2014 — Michael Brown, Mississippi State University
2013 — Mike Mogil
2012 — Donna Lee
2011 — John Gordon
Jan Null
2010 — John J. Metz and Jason Dunn
2009 — The COMET Program
2008 — Mark W. Rose
2007 — Roberta Chance
2006 — Hector Guerrero, Kandis Boyd, Dennis Cain, Ron Trumbla, and Ben Weiger
2005 — John S. Jensenius, Jr.
2004 — Warning Preparedness Meteorologists at the Prairie Storm Prediction Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
(Jay Anderson, Bob Cormier, Dan Kulak, John Parker, Dennis Dudley and Brian Paruk)
2003 — Brian Olson
2002 — Lori Painter
2001 — Tina Adams
2000 — WPBF-TV 25
The Michigan Committee for Severe Weather Awareness
1999 — William Roeder
1998 — Robert G. Goldhammer
John B. McLaughlin
1997 — Gary Woodall
Jud Ladd
Suzanne Nichols
1996 — Don Thompson
Susan Murphy
1995 — Nathan B. McCollum
1994 — Barbara McNaught Watson
1993 — Michelle Leigh Budenstein
1992 — Michael E. Whitehead
1991 — Christopher Ratley
1990 — James P. Kramper
1989 — Ernest L. McIntyre
Robert J. Schmidli
1988 — Mary Love Bigony
John Feldt

1979 — National Weather Service Office, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for service during Three-Mile Island Incident

Jerrold A. LaRue, Anthony T. Tancreto, and Joseph R. Vazzo
Sol Hirsch
Cynthia A. Nelson
Stephen W. Harned, J. Kevin Lavin
Kenneth C. Crawford