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46 MTR January 2007 Ian Polley who has now retired after 16 years as the firm's managing direc- tor. In that time, Ian oversaw many of the key developments in Sonardyne's offshore acoustic technology includ- ing the launch of SIPS, the compa- ny's expansion into new global mar- kets and most recently, the introduc- tion of Fusion Wideband technology. This particular achievement was marked during his farewell party at the Sonardyne's headquarters in Yateley, U.K., when he was given the job of cutting into two cakes that had been made in the style of Sonardyne's Compatt 5 Wideband transponders. Polley shared his party with Nigel Kelland (pictured center) who has retired from his post as operations director after 27 years with Sonardyne. NOAA Selects Proenza Xavier William (Bill) Proenza was named to replace Max Mayfield as the director of its National Hurricane Center and two other divisions of the NOAA Tropical Prediction Center in Miami. Proenza was a long-time director of the NOAA National Weather Service Southern Region. "Bill directs warning and forecast services for the most active severe weather region in the United States, the Southern Region, where nearly 90 percent of our nation's hurricanes make landfall. He has made hurricane preparation and the local forecasting of flooding, tornadoes and high winds by our network of weather forecast offices his top priority," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmos- phere and NOAA administrator. "He is an effective and knowledgeable leader and well respected by our part- ners in emergency management and the media." Proenza started his career with the NOAA National Weather Service at its National Hurricane Center and with NOAA's hurricane hunters in the mid '60s and went on to serve in a number of field, headquarters and leadership capacities across the nation. He has been director of the NOAA National Weather Service Southern Region since 1998. The Florida State University graduate is a long-standing member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association, and has held appointments in both pro- fessional agencies. In 2001, the AMS recognized him with its prestigious Francis W. Reichelderfer Award for outstanding environmental services to the nation. In 2003, Proenza was elected as an AMS Fellow. Newsome Joins SeaBotix SeaBotix appointed Sean Newsome as Sales Manager for the Americas, responsible for direct sales and dis- tributor relations throughout the Americas. In addition to sales, Sean is responsible for promoting the SeaBotix brand through marketing and trade shows. Sean is a native of San Diego and got his start as a Submarine Nuclear Electronics Technician/Reactor Operator aboard the USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730 Blue). He completed six strategic deterrent patrols while stationed at the Trident Submarine base in Bangor, WA. After the Navy, Sean worked for nearly 6 years at DeepSea Power & Light starting as a techni- cian and moving into sales during the development of the SeaSnake pipe inspection system. Sean's duties beyond inside/outside sales included trade shows, advertising and technical writing, as well as training and sup- port of manufacturer's representa- tives. Sean also has an Associate's Degree in graphic design. people & companies MTR#1 (33-48).qxd 1/11/2007 4:20 PM Page 46
