Director's Message:

While walking around the Tidal Basin last week, I took advantage of touring the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Rotunda and saw this quoted inscription on the Southeast Portico:

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and constitutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

I was inspired with how relevant to our times this message from our founder is, as NOAA, OMAO and CPC are taking a closer look at our organization's mission, goals and direction. As we approach the peak of this field season, let us also take stock in the discoveries we have made in our NOAA careers and at the opportunities we have to make new ones. Let us aspire to the ideals of Jefferson and make this the best organization for today and tomorrow.

CAPT Lawrence T. Krepp, NOAA
Director, CPC