[PHX-Skywarn] Skywarn Coordinator

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 14:35:33 -0700

Congraudlations, Even though I am not a ham, I am an observer and appreciate the
effort.

        Charlie Oliver MAA011

Larry Adkins wrote:

> I hope everyone is enjoying a nice weekend.
>
> To bring you all up-to-date, I have been asked by Steve Sipple to accept the
> position of "Skywarn Coordinator". I have accepted. This will provide a
> conduit between amateur radio and the NWS. I hope this will meet with
> everyone's approval. Now before you ask why me, let me provide you with a
> brief background on who I am.
>
> Presently I hold an Amateur Extra Class license, WB0PDP. I have been a ham
> since 1974. While living in North Platte, Nebraska, I became interested in
> the hobby while serving with the National Weather Service as a Weather
> Service Technician. I was the Skywarn program leader at the time. Once I
> became a Novice, WN0PDP, I was hooked. From North Platte, I transferred to
> Bismarck, North Dakota. Here I was in charge of the Skywarn program for the
> entire state. I was also the ARRL North Dakota Section Emergency Coordinator
> for almost two years. From Bismarck, my career took me to Savannah, GA and
> then to WSFO, Phoenix, AZ in 1978. Those of you who lived here during that
> time, will remember the floods of 1979. Being one of the only certified
> weather radar operators, I once spent four days in the radar room sleeping
> on a cot. Valley hams made sure I had a fresh HT and batteries so I could
> continue to make contact with spotters. I left Phoenix in 1981 because it
> was just too hot!
>
> >From Phoenix I spent a couple of years stationed at Who's in Oregon (OIC at
> Burns, OR and a tour with WSO Pendleton, OR). In 1984, I was assigned by the
> NWS to be Official In Charge of WSO, Red Bluff, CA. Again, I handled the
> Skywarn program for all of Northern California. It was here I became
> interested in  amateur television. We equipped aircraft with amateur
> television to survey flood damage along the Sacramento River and beam the
> video back to the weather office. I believe this was one of the first uses
> of amateur television for Skywarn.
>
> In 1986, the Weather Service assigned me as OIC of an embedded WSO for San
> Francisco. I remained here for the rest of my career retiring in 1993. Here
> I was Skywarn Coordinator for the nine counties surrounding the San
> Francisco Bay. Over all, I have 25 years with the National Weather Service.
> Before the NWS, I spent three years as a civilian with the Department of
> Defense, U.S. Navy involved in firing meteorological rockets into the
> atmosphere at the Pt. Mugu Pacific Missile Range and 6 years in the Army as
> a warrant officer involved in ballistic meteorology. Other duty not
> mentioned includes a tour at WSFO Oklahoma City, Anchorage, Alaska Regional
> HQ and the Pacific Weather Patrol.
>
> I am married to a fantastic lady going on 20 years now and she has also
> adopted my hobby. She is a Tech Plus - N7EQN. For years I have tried to get
> her to upgrade but she just won't do it. We currently live in Mesa in a
> retirement community.
>
> I will attempt to provide Steve with the assistance he needs and the
> coordination that amateur radio is looking for. I hope I will have the
> support of each of you. My door or phone will always open to you. In the
> next week, I will be contacting several of you on how we can solve the
> immediate problem of establishing a reliable backup repeater's) for sector
> 2.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Larry Adkins, WB0PDP
> 480-890-1606
>
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