Ashley Kells Email & Phone Number

Silver Spring, Md, Us

Silver Spring, Md

With the migration to AWIPS II complete in September 2015, I have become the project lead on a variety of development projects. As the project lead, I assist with the development of technical requirements, project plans and match project development schedules with release schedules. I also facilitate issues between the requirements owner (the NWS Analysis, Forecast and Support Office) and the development organizations including the AWIPS Prime Contractor. One of these development organizations is the WarnGen Template Team, which I lead. This group of field representatives maintains the WarnGen Templates, which affects the WarnGen GUI and text output for Short Duration Warnings. These projects include the migration of NWS Text Products to Mixed Case, modernization of the Climate program (AWIPS Climate Refresh) and two projects related to Hazard Simplification (HazSimp). These HazSimp projects will result in the creation of two new products (Dust Storm Warning and Snow Squall Warning) and the Winter and Hydro Watch/Advisory Consolidation.For seven years (2008-2015), I played an important part in the migration from AWIPS I to AWIPS II as the project manager for the Local Application Migration and Site Configuration Migration. As part of this process, I have led the National Local Application Working Group (LAWG), which was kicked off by a Local Application Workshop in fall of 2009. This workshop, held in Kansas City, MO, began creation process for a new Local Application Policy, along with a new Application Store (the NWS Software Collaboration Portal [SCP]) for field developed Local Applications. The SCP became operational in 2012 and the policy was implemented in 2014. The LAWG remains the Local Application governing body and is assisting to migrate the SCP into the new Virtual Lab architecture. I conducted AWIPS II Installation Kick-off Meetings with each field site to prepare them for the migration and tracked their progress.

Silver Spring, Md

While working for the AWIPS Site Support Team, I was the second tier software support for a variety of software applications including; decoding and displaying of Observational and Model Data in D2D, LDAD along with WarnGen configurations issues and problems. For a period of time I was the primary second tier support for the main AWIPS Baseline aviation tool, known as AvnFPS. Some of the projects that I was a crucial member of include the implementation of Storm-Based Warnings and Hydrological VTEC projects. To ensure a smooth implementation, I coordinated with OST, GSD and OS on the testing and implementation of turn-key scripts for both the VTEC in Hydrological products, but also the Time…Motion…Location (TML) line in all of the Short Duration Warning Products. I provided technical advice to the Storm-Based Warning Implementation Group. I was the OPS Voting Representative to the AWIPS Systems Recommendation and Evaluation Committee (SREC). As such, I develop the priorities for new functionality, small enhancements and coordinate with the DR Team on the DRs needed for each release.In the spring of 2006, I led a team to investigate, document and implement the software changes required to allow for the observance of Daylight Savings Time for the entire state of Indiana. As a result, I coordinated with the various AWIPS software development organizations to document the software changes needed. I worked with the AWIPS Prime Contractor (Raytheon) on a generalized testing plan, observed the tests and supported the installation of the software changes. I was an active a member of the National Weather Service Headquarters Forecast Support at WFO Sterling, VA. This support has members occasionally fill in as forecasters on the long term forecast desk. I was also involved in OS Weather Briefing Program, in which Weather Briefings are conducted twice a week.

Silver Spring, Md

As the AWIPS and Dissemination Requirements Meteorologist, my duties were to coordinate on a daily basis with Field Sites and the Regions, as well as, OST, MDL, FSL, OHD, OOS and Northrop Grumman Information Technology (NGIT). This coordination allowed me to accomplish my goal of prioritizing AWIPS problems (Discrepancy Reports [DR]), as well as to provide the operational impact of various proposed software and hardware patches. I worked with the various Service Branches in the OS to implement requirements and policy changes into AWIPS in as timely a manner as possible. During 2001-2002, I developed, implemented and completed AWIPS training for the OS staff. Part of organizing this training was to coordinate class scheduling and course material with the instructors from OST and MDL. The training topics included `AWIPS: Hardware Overview, Performance, the Linux Port Project and D2D`, `WARNGEN, WWA, SCAN and FFMP` and `IFPS`. During the fall of 2001, with the vacancies of the NOAAPort Data Manager and the IFPS Requirements Meteorologist, I temporarily took over their duties, as well as my own. In doing so, I prepared the Data Requirements Group's (DRG) Request for Change (RC) for new model, satellite and radar data. In January 2002 at the AMS's 82nd Annual Conference, I gave a presentation on the recent changes and the future requirements of NOAAPort data. As a result, I continued my work in coordinating with the Region's on future model requirements. This work also included giving a presentation on recent NOAAPort changes to the NWS Partners at the Partners Workshop in June 2002.

North Little Rock, Ar

My duties as a journey-level forecaster for the NWSFO Little Rock included working both the aviation and public desks, issuing the complete suite of products in a timely fashion. During these shifts, I coordinated with neighboring Weather Service Forecast Offices, River Forecast Centers and the Storm Prediction Center. I also worked numerous severe weather events, during my time in Little Rock, including the Ice Storms of December 2000, the January 27, 2000 Snow Storm and the Tornado Outbreaks of January 17 and 21, 1999. The exceptionally outstanding work and services provided during both of the tornado outbreaks of 1999 resulted in the award of a Silver Medal and cash award for this office, including myself. During these numerous severe weather events, I staffed the various severe weather posts including WSR-88D operator; composed and disseminated the forecast products, short term warnings, statements and NOWCASTs. After these severe weather events, I have gone out on several storm surveys.While a journey-level forecaster at the NWSFO Little Rock, I served as `Acting` Forecaster In Charge on several occasions. In acting as the shift supervisor, I was responsible for the origination and monitoring of the preparation of all office products. Also during these shifts, I assessed the hydro-meteorological situation and determined the optimum staffing needs for the office during severe weather. As the AWIPS focal point and one of the system administrators, I was a very key member and occasional facilitator of the AWIPS team. This team, which included the SOO and the ESA, developed and implemented several goals and objectives to accomplish several localization and customization issues. The SOO and I also conducted a training seminar during the fall of 1999 on the operations of WarnGen. I was also the co-focal point for Storm Data and the assistant hydrological focal point.

Wilmington, Oh

My duties at the NWSO Wilmington, OH included issuing daily river forecasts and river statements, operating four digital NOAA Weather Radios, launching upper air balloons, taking observations, downloading climatological information and quality controlling of hydro-meteorological data. I also answered phone calls from the media, the public, law enforcement officials, spotters and Emergency Management personnel for a variety of requests including climate, forecast and warning information. Along with my routine duties at the co-located Wilmington, OH office, I gained experience in the hydrological operations of the Ohio River Forecast Center. This experience includes filling in as a Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support (HAS) Forecaster on several occasions in which, I would analyze the QPF from the regional Weather Forecast Offices and construct a mosaic of these forecasts, as well as my own for input into the river model.My responsibilities included the following focal point areas: ASOS, Climate and Station Librarian. As the ASOS focal point, I initiated a quality control program for the ASOS sites in the CWA. As the Climate focal point, I saw to the smooth transfer of the spin down WSO's climate programs to the Wilmington office. This transfer included finding a way of downloading the ASOS climate data, setting the station policy on climate requests and the standardization of the format for the climate statements. My tour of duty at this office allowed me to accomplish several tasks in my career development. My experience as an Intern included operating the WSR-88D, acting as severe weather coordinator, composer of warnings and operating NOAA Weather Radio during a variety of severe weather situations. I also conducted several spotter training sessions and several damage surveys. The exceptionally outstanding work and services provided during Ohio River Flood of 1997 resulted in the award of a Silver Medal and cash award for this office, including myself.