Strategy

Peyton Robertson
OOE assists NWS leadership with strategy, ensures NWS is aware of the interconnectivity of various tactical and strategic decisions, and identifies long-term strategic opportunities and threats to the organization. As authors of the agency’s Strategic Plan, OOE facilitates projects and engagements to encourage strategic thinking across the organization.

If you have any questions regarding the NWS Strategy, please reach out to Peyton Robertson.

5-Year Goals

NWS drives its mission execution through a clearly articulated and deliberate strategy
NWS is aware of itself, its environment, and the interconnectivity of strategic decisions

Activities

Monitor the NWS Strategic Plan performance metrics that measure progress toward the mission, vision, and goals
Co-chair the NWS Fall Strategy Meeting
Assist NWS offices with their strategic analyses and plans
Identify long-term strategic opportunities and threats to the NWS in the 10+ year timeframe
Publish strategic narratives articulating visions, successes, challenges, and opportunities

Resources

NWS 2019-2022 Strategic Plan:The 2019-2022 Strategic Plan outlines the mission, vision, core principles, and goals for the NWS. While our mission and vision remain the same as the previous Weather-Ready Nation Strategic Plan, this plan introduced three new goals: 1) Reduce the impacts of weather, water, and climate events by transforming the way people receive, understand, and act on information, 2) Harness cutting-edge science, technology, and engineering to provide the best observations, forecasts, and warnings, and 3) Evolve the NWS to excel in the face of change through investment in our people, partnerships, and organizational performance.
NWS FY19-FY20 Strategic Plan Status Update: This document highlights the progress our agency has made toward achieving the goals and objectives set in the 2019-2022 NWS Strategic Plan. Released in fiscal year 2020, this status update includes key mission and programmatic accomplishments made by NWS and performance goals and metrics included in Appendix B of the Strategic Plan.
NWS Strategic Plan Poster (this is for internal NOAA only)
NWS Strategic Plan in Brief (this is for internal NOAA only)
Previous Strategic Plans:

Foundational Reports

Operations and Workforce Analysis Catalog (2017): This catalog details the findings and ideas generated during the Operations and Workforce Analysis (OWA) from May 2015 to December 2016, which was designed to assess NWS current operations and its workforce to generate ideas and strategies for the NWS to consider in support of the ultimate strategic outcome of building a Weather-Ready Nation.

Forecast for the Future – Assuring the Capacity of the National Weather Service (2013): This study by a Panel of the National Academy of Public Administration examines NWS operations and presents a change management framework for the future.

Weather Services for the Nation: Becoming Second to None (2012): This report addresses the challenges faced by the NWS post-Modernization and Associated Restructuring (MAR) era and explores recommended solutions to those challenges.

Weather Ready Nation: A Vital Conversation on Tornadoes and Severe Weather (2012): This report covers a NOAA-facilitated national summit on tornadoes and severe weather held in December 2011, where a national conversation began on what it takes for our country to become a Weather‐Ready Nation.

Peer-Reviewed Publications and Case Studies
- Willoughby, K. G., D. Bathurst, G. Devereaux, K. C. Goss, E. Kellar, S. Metzenbaum, J. E. Ten Hoeve, and L. W. Uccellini (2020): Emergency and Disaster Management Case Study, National Academy of Public Administration, Standing Panel on Intergovernmental Systems. This case study, part of the NAPA Standing Panel on Intergovernmental Systems, discusses problem areas, best practices, and examples with providing effective emergency and disaster response across federal, state, and local levels.
- Louis W. Uccellini, John E. Ten Hoeve, Evolving the National Weather Service to Build a Weather-Ready Nation: Connecting Observations, Forecasts, and Warnings to Decision-Makers through Impact-Based Decision Support Services (2019), Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0159.1, 100, 10, (1923-1942). This paper discusses the elements driving the need for change at the NWS; the foundational basis for IDSS; the path toward evolving the NWS to deliver more effective IDSS; the importance of partnerships; and initial supporting evidence and lessons learned from early efforts.
- Uccellini L.W., Ten Hoeve J.E., Lenihan S., Bleistein A.J., Draggon C., Lovern M.A. (2018)
  Restructuring the National Weather Service to Build a Weather-Ready Nation. In: Farazmand A. (eds) Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_3634-1: This paper goes into greater detail regarding the restructuring of the NWS's budget, organization, and governance from 2013 to 2016, including reasons for success and lessons learned
- Uccellini, L.W. (2016), Restructuring the National Weather Service. Public Admin Rev, 76: 842-843.
  https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12633 : This paper by Louis W. Uccellini describes the restructuring of the NWS's budget, organization, and governance from 2013 to 2016.

Strategy | Organizational Health and Culture | External Engagement | Governance | DEIA