Office of Chief Operating Officer
Source: https://www.weather.gov/organization/coo
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:00
Office of Chief Operating Officer
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Severe Weather in the Central U.S.; Critical Fire Weather in the Southern Plains
Severe thunderstorms are expected to form today from northern Oklahoma into southern Minnesota. Very large hail and tornadoes will be the initial threats this afternoon, then transition into a wind threat tonight. Gusty winds, warm temperatures, and very dry conditions will create a Critical Risk of fire weather across portions of the southern Plains today.
Read More >
National Weather Service Organization
National Program
Office of Chief Operating Officer
Weather.gov
>
National Weather Service Organization
> Office of Chief Operating Officer
Raymond Tanabe
Performing the duties of Chief Operating Officer
The Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO) manages the day-to-day mission execution units responsible for delivering NWS weather, water, climate and space weather products, services, and information as well as the budgetary planning for 11 National Service Programs. The Office is responsible for coordinating and integrating all aspects of mission execution to ensure consistency of NWS products and services. The Office is responsible for enforcing National Service Program policy. The Office manages the NWS Operations Center (NWSOC) and provides liaison services to other partnering agencies. The Office is the lead for Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning to ensure organizational and management continuity. The Office monitors and reports service delivery performance measures, conducts and evaluates operational service efficiency, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction, and develops NWS policy delineating NWS's mission and its public sector responsibility to produce and disseminate information. The Office manages and oversees resources to maintain and sustain effective mission execution, identifies and validates needed service requirements, and ensures those needs are incorporated into cross-portfolio planning activities. These activities require active coordination and collaboration with all members of the climatological, hydrometeorological, space weather, and oceanographic communities as well as all weather-sensitive constituent communities including other Federal, state, and local government agencies; the media; the private weather information sector; academic institutions; non-governmental organizations; constituent organizations; and the public.
Policy Documents and References
- Links to Policy documents and reference material related to COO activities, e.g., Public/Private Sector Roles, Data Rights, etc.
Operations Division
Mike Sowko
The OCOO’s Operations Division is responsible for providing Headquarters-level support to the entire field structure through the provision of objective and impact-based performance metrics, monitoring forecast and warning consistency, facilitating communications between senior leadership, core Federal partners and the field and focusing on Continuity of Operations (COOP). The Division provides oversight and insight to NWS service performance and ensures NWS is responsive by delivering products and information that are useful to customers and partners. The Division also oversees NWS service assessments and their recommendations as many affect NWS partners in the delivery of services including the media, local officials, emergency managers, and weather and climate enterprise. The Division ensures optimal resources are available to cover the HQ-based NWS Operations Center as well as liaison support to partnering Federal agencies. The Division ensures that training requirements for both operations and service assessments feed into the Office of the Chief Learning Officer.
+
Performance and Evaluation Branch
Mike Sowko
The Performance and Evaluation Branch provides the foundation for all NWS service improvement activities by measuring, analyzing and reporting operational performance and assessing customer satisfaction with service delivery. The Branch provides the leadership and establishes policy for the verification service assessment, customer satisfaction and forensic services programs. The Branch also develops the requirements for a robust verification system and oversees the system’s development and maintenance. The verification program measures the accuracy and timeliness of all NWS services including warnings and forecasts for the public, aviation, marine, fire weather, and emergency management communities. This provides a baseline for the establishment of performance measures as mandated in the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). The NWS evaluation program uses teams established at each NWS service delivery point to assess needed improvements. The Branch uses assessment findings to recommend national changes to improve service programs. Following extreme events, the Branch organizes and deploys teams to assess the level of service performance and make recommendations for increased effectiveness. The Branch creates customer satisfaction indices and assists service program managers in translating results into service improvements. It establishes policy for archiving NWS data and products that are used by the public, weather sensitive economic sectors, and academia for both research and legal purposes. Information contained in the NWS natural hazards database is the only official repository for natural hazard statistics and is used by agencies such as FEMA, the EPA, USGS, and organizations such as the Institute for Business and Home Safety to suggest mitigation strategies. The Branch provides policy on how the NWS should respond to litigation requests and counsels employees before testimony and depositions. Forensic support is provided to the Justice Department and the DOC General Counsel to prepare for weather related legal cases and claims against the government.
+
NWS Operations Center
Brian Montgomery
The NWS Operations Center’s (NWSOC) primary responsibilities are to organize and maintain two-way communications between senior leadership and the field, provide NWS Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning and support NWS liaisons that are embedded at the agencies of core Federal partners. The NWSOC keeps senior officials from the Department of Commerce, NOAA, and NWS apprised of any environmental or service-related events through both routine and real-time briefings, emails and written reports through its seven day per week operations. The NWSOC coordinates with NWS Regional Operations Centers (ROCs), NWS National Centers (NCEP), and NOAA Homeland Security Program Office (HSPO). The NWSOC acts as the general off-hours focal point for the ROCs and NWS Headquarters and follows FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) structure to enable surge staffing capacity as events unfold. The NWSOC issues event reports and GIS-formatted situational awareness graphics that are distributed to DOC/NOAA/NWS and numerous Federal partners. Staff from the NWSOC is deployed at FEMA’s National Watch Center, with FEMA’s National Incident Management Assistant Teams (N-IMAT), and with the National Interagency Fire Center. The Operation’s Center conducts outreach and coordinates with Operational Centers at other Federal Agencies including: Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, Health and Human Services Secretary Operations Center, the Centers for Disease Control, the Veteran’s Administration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Staff at the NWSOC also works with NWS Office of Communications and conducts media interviews and provides social media updates as needed.
ORGANIZATION RSS Feed
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
National Weather Service Organization
1325 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Comments? Questions? Please Contact Us.
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HOME
FORECAST
Local
Graphical
Aviation
Marine
Rivers and Lakes
Hurricanes
Severe Weather
Fire Weather
Sunrise/Sunset
Long Range Forecasts
Climate Prediction
Space Weather
PAST WEATHER
Past Weather
Astronomical Data
Certified Weather Data
SAFETY
INFORMATION
Wireless Emergency Alerts
Weather-Ready Nation
Brochures
Cooperative Observers
Daily Briefing
Damage/Fatality/Injury Statistics
Forecast Models
GIS Data Portal
NOAA Weather Radio
Publications
SKYWARN Storm Spotters
StormReady
TsunamiReady
Service Change Notices
EDUCATION
NEWS
SEARCH
ABOUT
About NWS
Organization
For NWS Employees
National Centers
Careers
Contact Us
Glossary
Social Media
NWS Transformation
Severe Weather in the Central U.S.; Critical Fire Weather in the Southern Plains
Severe thunderstorms are expected to form today from northern Oklahoma into southern Minnesota. Very large hail and tornadoes will be the initial threats this afternoon, then transition into a wind threat tonight. Gusty winds, warm temperatures, and very dry conditions will create a Critical Risk of fire weather across portions of the southern Plains today.
Read More >
National Weather Service Organization
National Program
Office of Chief Operating Officer
Weather.gov
>
National Weather Service Organization
> Office of Chief Operating Officer
Raymond Tanabe
Performing the duties of Chief Operating Officer
The Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO) manages the day-to-day mission execution units responsible for delivering NWS weather, water, climate and space weather products, services, and information as well as the budgetary planning for 11 National Service Programs. The Office is responsible for coordinating and integrating all aspects of mission execution to ensure consistency of NWS products and services. The Office is responsible for enforcing National Service Program policy. The Office manages the NWS Operations Center (NWSOC) and provides liaison services to other partnering agencies. The Office is the lead for Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning to ensure organizational and management continuity. The Office monitors and reports service delivery performance measures, conducts and evaluates operational service efficiency, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction, and develops NWS policy delineating NWS's mission and its public sector responsibility to produce and disseminate information. The Office manages and oversees resources to maintain and sustain effective mission execution, identifies and validates needed service requirements, and ensures those needs are incorporated into cross-portfolio planning activities. These activities require active coordination and collaboration with all members of the climatological, hydrometeorological, space weather, and oceanographic communities as well as all weather-sensitive constituent communities including other Federal, state, and local government agencies; the media; the private weather information sector; academic institutions; non-governmental organizations; constituent organizations; and the public.
Policy Documents and References
- Links to Policy documents and reference material related to COO activities, e.g., Public/Private Sector Roles, Data Rights, etc.
Operations Division
Mike Sowko
The OCOO’s Operations Division is responsible for providing Headquarters-level support to the entire field structure through the provision of objective and impact-based performance metrics, monitoring forecast and warning consistency, facilitating communications between senior leadership, core Federal partners and the field and focusing on Continuity of Operations (COOP). The Division provides oversight and insight to NWS service performance and ensures NWS is responsive by delivering products and information that are useful to customers and partners. The Division also oversees NWS service assessments and their recommendations as many affect NWS partners in the delivery of services including the media, local officials, emergency managers, and weather and climate enterprise. The Division ensures optimal resources are available to cover the HQ-based NWS Operations Center as well as liaison support to partnering Federal agencies. The Division ensures that training requirements for both operations and service assessments feed into the Office of the Chief Learning Officer.
+
Performance and Evaluation Branch
Mike Sowko
The Performance and Evaluation Branch provides the foundation for all NWS service improvement activities by measuring, analyzing and reporting operational performance and assessing customer satisfaction with service delivery. The Branch provides the leadership and establishes policy for the verification service assessment, customer satisfaction and forensic services programs. The Branch also develops the requirements for a robust verification system and oversees the system’s development and maintenance. The verification program measures the accuracy and timeliness of all NWS services including warnings and forecasts for the public, aviation, marine, fire weather, and emergency management communities. This provides a baseline for the establishment of performance measures as mandated in the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). The NWS evaluation program uses teams established at each NWS service delivery point to assess needed improvements. The Branch uses assessment findings to recommend national changes to improve service programs. Following extreme events, the Branch organizes and deploys teams to assess the level of service performance and make recommendations for increased effectiveness. The Branch creates customer satisfaction indices and assists service program managers in translating results into service improvements. It establishes policy for archiving NWS data and products that are used by the public, weather sensitive economic sectors, and academia for both research and legal purposes. Information contained in the NWS natural hazards database is the only official repository for natural hazard statistics and is used by agencies such as FEMA, the EPA, USGS, and organizations such as the Institute for Business and Home Safety to suggest mitigation strategies. The Branch provides policy on how the NWS should respond to litigation requests and counsels employees before testimony and depositions. Forensic support is provided to the Justice Department and the DOC General Counsel to prepare for weather related legal cases and claims against the government.
+
NWS Operations Center
Brian Montgomery
The NWS Operations Center’s (NWSOC) primary responsibilities are to organize and maintain two-way communications between senior leadership and the field, provide NWS Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning and support NWS liaisons that are embedded at the agencies of core Federal partners. The NWSOC keeps senior officials from the Department of Commerce, NOAA, and NWS apprised of any environmental or service-related events through both routine and real-time briefings, emails and written reports through its seven day per week operations. The NWSOC coordinates with NWS Regional Operations Centers (ROCs), NWS National Centers (NCEP), and NOAA Homeland Security Program Office (HSPO). The NWSOC acts as the general off-hours focal point for the ROCs and NWS Headquarters and follows FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) structure to enable surge staffing capacity as events unfold. The NWSOC issues event reports and GIS-formatted situational awareness graphics that are distributed to DOC/NOAA/NWS and numerous Federal partners. Staff from the NWSOC is deployed at FEMA’s National Watch Center, with FEMA’s National Incident Management Assistant Teams (N-IMAT), and with the National Interagency Fire Center. The Operation’s Center conducts outreach and coordinates with Operational Centers at other Federal Agencies including: Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, Health and Human Services Secretary Operations Center, the Centers for Disease Control, the Veteran’s Administration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Staff at the NWSOC also works with NWS Office of Communications and conducts media interviews and provides social media updates as needed.
ORGANIZATION RSS Feed
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
National Weather Service Organization
1325 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Comments? Questions? Please Contact Us.
Disclaimer
Information Quality
Help
Glossary
Privacy Policy
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
About Us
Career Opportunities