(L to R) - WCMs Gary Woodall, Walt Zaleski, Steve Drillette, Larry Eblen, Jody James, Barry Goldsmith and John Fausett at Rosario's Mexican Restaurant in San Antiono (Photo: WFO New Braunfels)
(Dec. 7, 2007) - In town to attend the Texas Homeland Security Conference in San Antonio, National Weather Service forecasters and friends from Texas and Louisiana took time out to bid farewell to Larry Eblen, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the Weather Forecast Office in New Braunfels, Texas. A veteran of 38 years of federal service, Eblen is retiring January 2.
He began his career as a civilian forecaster for the U.S. Air Force -- while completing his undergraduate and graduate studies in Meteorology at Texas A&M University. He launched his National Weather Service career in 1977 as the Warning Preparedness Meteorologist in Lubbock, Texas.
In 1981, he became the program manager for agriculture, aviation and marine programs at Southern Region Headquarters in Fort Worth. Two years later, Eblen was appointed Lead Forecaster at the forecast office in New Braunfels, Texas. He was promoted to Warning Coordination Meteorologist in 1994.
Eblen also played a major role in the office's modernization efforts in 1990s. He is the author of numerous National Weather Service and Air Force severe weather forecasting and weather safety articles, computer programs, slide presentations and videos; and, has trained thousands of storm spotters now serving South Central Texas.
Sponsored by the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, the annual Texas Homeland Security Conference is one of the premier training events for emergency management and homeland security professionals in the United States.
Participants include representatives of law enforcement; border, port, transportation and cyber security; firefighters; emergency managers; Texas military personnel; voluntary private-sector organizations; educators; health and medical care professionals; and, local, state and national government officials.
(L to R) - WCMs Jody James, Barry Goldsmith, John Fausett, Pat Vesper, Roger Erickson, John Metz and Gene Hafele; Midland Corporation Rep. Bruce Thomas, WCM Hector Guerrero and Forecaster Jason Runyen; WCMs Gary Woodall, Walt Zaleski and Steve Drillette (Photo: WFO New Braunfels)
