National Weather Service CFO balances today’s spending, future forecasting needs

Though he may be a numbers guy by trade Bob Byrd, the new chief financial officer at the National Weather Service, has always been fascinated by science. He said his interest in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration goes back to a long time.

“Even as a kid I remembered NOAA, going out on the ships on the ocean, seeing the whales and all of that on National Geographic and on public television. There was always an interest there,” he said. “I also had an interest in the weather service and its mission.”
When it comes to missions, Byrd’s career in the federal government has been diverse. It’s included the agency that makes coins, one that tests food safety and now the agency whose mission is to predict and inform the public about the weather.

While Byrd appreciates the differences among the departments he’s worked for, he’s quick to point out the similarities that accompany managing finances and finding efficiencies in any organization inside or outside of government.

Byrd, who previously was chief financial officer at the Food and Drug Administration, spent a few years in the private sector before returning to government and serving as the associate director and chief financial officer at the U.S. Mint. He took over the post at the National Weather Service July 10.

FederalNewsRadio - Ask the CFO - John Potts (NWS)

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