Name: Kirby Gean

Q: Where in NOAA do you work now?
A: National Ocean Service Marine Chart Division

Q: When did you begin your work with NOAA?
A: I began work on June 24, 1970 as a Cartographer with the Coast and Geodetic Survey

Q: Looking back, what events stand out as the most memorable during your time with NOAA?
A: Of my entire career here at NOAA, the past 6 years has seen a renaissance in the way cartography is performed in the Office of Coast Survey.

Q: From your point of view, what have been the most significant changes NOAA has experienced during the past 30 years?
A: Employees of the Marine Chart Division (MCD) are directly responsible for developing and engineering new capabilities and more efficient methods under the direction of able managers: RADM Nicholas Prahl, Captain David B. MacFarland and Dave Enabnit. Empowerment of employees is the key to the successes that we have seen. Each of the managers named ensured this. The Marine Chart Division received the Hammer Award for Reinventing Government. People's creativity and skills has put NOS back on the map where National and International Mapping and Hydrographic Offices are coming to NOAA for advice and direction on how to set up similar capabilities. Without the management skills of Captain MacFarland and the technical vision of Dave Enabnit, we certainly would not be at this juncture. RADM Nicholas Prahl is noted for "breaking the paradigm" of how the business of cartography should be practiced and of hiring outside of the pool of resources for the talent required to advance MCD to the remarkable position it now enjoys.

This page updated on: Monday, 07-Jan-2002 21:41:56 GMT
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