Dr. William (Bill) Michael Lapenta
Dr. William (Bill) Michael Lapenta, former director of NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), passed away on September 30, 2019. Over his impressive career, Bill was a champion for atmospheric sciences, and passionately supported the next generation of scientists, researchers, forecasters and leaders in the field. At the time of his passing, Dr. Lapenta was transitioning into a new position as Director of the Weather Program Office (WPO). Dr. Lapenta left a lasting impression on many people, from his time at NASA, to his outstanding career at NOAA. He was known for being a phenomenal mentor, respected leader and great friend. Continue reading about Dr. Lapenta’s legacy here.