September 22, 1999 Tech Arena Presentation

by William T. Turnbull

Deputy Director
High Performance Computing and Communications
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

IT²
Information Technology for the Twenty-first Century

SUMMARY

EIIP Tech Arena Online Presentation
Wednesday - September 22, 1999 - 12:00 Noon EDT

IT2
Information Technology for the Twenty-first Century

Bill Turnbull
Deputy Director
NOAA's High Performance Computing and Communications

The EIIP Virtual Forum Tech Arena featured Bill Turnbull, Deputy Director of NOAA's High Performance Computing and Communications office. Mr. Turnbull overviewed the Presidential initiative called "Information Technology for the Twenty-first Century," or IT 2, and how it may be applied to the problems of Emergency Managers. This initiative marks a very large investment in IT research by the President and Vice President in the FY2000 budget. This research builds on past successes in federal research -- research that led to such things as the mouse, windows and even the Internet itself. The initiative was developed by the research agencies of the federal government following the recommendations of the President's IT Advisory Committee (PITAC). They felt strongly that the US government must increase funding of long-term research to keep the U.S. in the leadership of this field.

Mr. Turnbull used a number of slides to visually demonstrate his presentation and stressed that he wanted to obtain ideas from the audience that could help emergency managers in the future -- in the next three to ten years.

WILLIAM T. TURNBULL

Deputy Director
High Performance Computing and Communications
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Bill Turnbull has participated in the computer revolution from the beginning of his career. Prior to his assignment to the High Performance Computing and Communications program, he directed NOAA's Environmental Information Services office as NOAA modernized its information services moving onto the Internet and World Wide Web.

As Commanding Officer of the 30-year old ship SURVEYOR he designed and oversaw the upgrading and networking of the ship's computer and data systems; and as Chief, Techniques Development Group at the Climate Research Division, he moved the Division into the modern era of RISC-based networked workstations. Throughout his career, he has introduced new computing techniques to whatever position he has occupied.

He is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Information Resources Management College, National Defense University and holds a Master of Public Affairs and Bachelor of Science in Physics. He has received numerous awards including the Department of Commerce Silver Medal for development of the National Environmental Directory and the creation and promotion of NOAA's on-line data services.

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