(August 2, 2012) -- The National Weather Service forecast office in Shreveport, La. received two national Isaac M. Cline awards for 2011. Retired Meteorologist-in-Charge Armando L. Garza received the award in the diversity category. The award recognizes his outstanding service and devotion to the Equal Employment Opportunity program and diversity management process over the last four decades.

The Shreveport staffers were also awarded the national Isaac M. Cline Award for excellence in their upper air program. Over the last several years, the team at Shreveport has worked diligently to improve upper air scores and to maintain consistency and accuracy in the program.

In addition to the Cline award, Garza was also honored for a long and excellent National Weather Service career that began as a meteorology intern in Albuquerque in 1972.

He also served as the warning coordination meteorologist in Memphis, Tenn. in 1975 before assuming the focal point duties of satellite, marine and hurricane programs in San Juan, Puerto Rico the following year. Two years later, Garza moved to the Center Weather Service Unit in Houston to support the Federal Aviation Administration Air Route Traffic Control Center.

His next move was to New Orleans Weather Forecast Office where he served as a forecaster (1979 to 1986) until joining Southern Region Headquarters as the regional aviation meteorologist. Garza transferred to Honolulu in 1993 to become the office's science and operations officer.

He was appointed as the meteorologist-in-charge in San Diego in 1995 and supervised the office until 2001 when he became the meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service office at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. He left the Academy to serve as meteorologist-in-charge in Corpus Christi, Texas in 2003. Two years later, he made his final move to take over the Shreveport office.

"During the last 40 years, Armando has served with distinction in numerous offices throughout the nation allowing him to gain experience with practically every type of severe weather condition," said Proenza. "His extensive experience and leadership ability was a winning combination that helped provide excellent service to thousands of citizens throughout various regions of our country. He will be missed."

Armando and his wife, Norma, will make their retirement home in San Antonio, Texas.

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