Director of National Hurricane Center Bill Read to Retire

Last day will be in June 1

Bill Read, director of the National Hurricane Center located in Miami, announced Friday that he would retire on June 1 in a letter to staff and management.

In the letter, Read, 62, explained that he chose his retirement date to be in the midst of hurricane season because there were opportunities he wanted to pursue in the summer but also because he wanted his successor to jump right into the job.

“I believe it would be a better transition for a new director to first work the hurricane season, then tackle the important off season activities armed with a season’s experience,” he wrote. 

He wrote that it was his intention to serve as director for no more than five years, and his retirement  would occur at just shy of four-and-a-half years.

Read said the search for the next director would begin immediately.

“In the meantime, the annual 'road show' and other work at the office continues as always,” he wrote.

Before taking the full time position in 2008, Read was appointed as acting director of the center in August 2007, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He previously served in the US Navy and began his career with the National Weather Service in 1977.
 

Contact Us