Easing Into Norman: Ed Kessler on the Origins and Growth of the National Severe Storms Laboratory

Abstract

wing essay is excerpted from conversations with Edwin Kessler, founding director of NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, conducted by Ariel Cohen and Stephen and Sarah Corfidi of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center. Cohen and the Corfidis based the discussion in part on Kessler's speech at the 50th anniversary of the School of Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma in October 2010, and Cohen converted this discussion to a Q&A format. The conversations range over many subjects, including accomplishments of NSSL, Kessler's role as its manager, and the many people who were crucial to the lab's growth. The entire conversation is published by BAMS online, but here we've selected Kessler's words regarding the move to Norman, the community that evolved there, and how NSSL thrived there because of?and despite?the bureaucratic changes that federal agencies underwent at that time.?The Editors