Local Weather Service farewells Scott Rozanski after recent promotion

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The COVID 19 pandemic has brought much heartache and sadness to many and the NOAA/NWS Weather Service Office Pago Pago (WSO Pago) is not spared.  One of the first and few flights leaving the territory since the lockdown, last Friday, July 17, saw one of their own traveling back to the mainland U.S. Meteorologist/Forecaster Scott Rozanski, who has been with the National Weather Service for nearly a quarter of a century has accepted a position of promotion level in the NOAA National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  

In American Samoa for a little over 15-months, many in WSO Pago will miss the much beloved, and appreciated co-worker, whose expertise and work ethics have helped the American Samoa Weather Service tremendously.

Natives of Michigan state, Scott and his wife Kim lived in beachfront home in Failolo village, next to Amanave after they fell in love with the place and made all arrangements prior to their move to American Samoa. Earlier this year Kim had traveled to Honolulu and visited family in Michigan when the coronavirus lockdown occurred and she was not able to return, thus, with the promotion to Alabama, she is now reunited with her husband.

The Rozanski’s plans were to spend a few years in the territory and acquire knowledge of a remote, rural Weather Service operation, something totally different from what Scott was accustomed to in cold, Gaylord, Michigan.  What he and his wife have found, is a family and a culture they have grown to love and appreciate. The sentiments are reciprocated in WSO Pago Pago.  

In the past few years since the retirement of longtime Meteorologist in Charge, (MIC) Chief Mase Akapo Akapo in 2016, the Weather Service has been under the leadership of the first Samoan female ever to lead the federal agency in the territory, MIC Elinor Lutu-McMoore.

One of MIC Lutu-McMoore’s goals for the office was to have it fully staffed with capable personnel and elevate the level of service to a functional Forecast Office. Although, an extensive search was made of young Samoans in the Meteorological field to apply for openings available in the local office, none were available. MIC McMoore and leaders of the NOAA/NWS Pacific Region Headquarters (PRH) determined the non-Samoan forecasters would move WSO Pago forward and achieve the coveted Forecast Office designation, the next level above a Weather Service Office. Scott Rozanski of Michigan and Joseph LaPlante of New York were hired.

In the beginning of this year in February, 2020, when strong winds brought Tropical Cyclones Vicky and Wasi to the territory, Scott Rozanski was instrumental in elevating the Weather Service Office Pago Pago’s interaction with the local public and government officials. He was involved with daily briefings of the American Samoa Government and local partners, requiring the expertise of the Weather Service Office on developments in the weather as well as the long-term forecasts to ensure the safety and protection of our island people. Scott helped deliver weather products and updates of what is usually publicized and announced in the media and help prepare and apprise the territory of impending danger and weather hazards.

Many of the local forecasters, most of whom are young knowledgeable Samoans with Meteorology degrees, Salu Hans Malala, Jane Taifane-Allen and Theodora Le’iato-Meredith, have benefitted from Scott’s many years in the National Weather Service providing many improvements implemented for WSO Pago Pago. He was able to develop a High Surf Prone Map to help people determine hazardous areas during High Surf events. Scott helped to train and improve forecaster responsibilities using AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing Systems). He compiled years of Upper Air sounding data to improve forecasting techniques. Building a strong relationship with lone partners to help WSO Pago Pago’s “Weather Ready Nation” initiatives.  

Even the support section of WSO Pago Pago, also manned by local Samoans, certified and trained to help the forecasters, Meteorological Technicians Tanielu “Danny” Liufau, Tamara Toilolo-Tiatia and Sina Solomona-Tilo, each attribute an improved sense of work ethics in the office to Scott’s enthusiasm and vast knowledge of the Weather Service.

As a parting gift to the work of the Met Techs, Scott’s assistance to restart the very important and vast Cooperative Observer Program, (COOP) of the National Weather Service (NWS) with Danny and Tamara is a welcome relief to the Weather data gathering long required locally.  

The COOP is one of the longest Weather programs on island, where nationwide, thousands of volunteers network and take observations of rainfall collected, in the States, snow and other weather occurrences. In the territory, WSO Pago have records of data collected dating back to the 1960’s by the Catholic nuns, Sisters teaching in St. Theresa Elementary School in Leone.

Private citizens in various villages can volunteer to help gather weather data, namely precipitation noted everyday and submitted to the Weather Office, weekly or monthly. This is crucial data important to the longterm work of the forecasters and record keeping.

The fact that Scott has resurrected the COOP, is a tremendous advantage for the territory and its people.

A handyman by trade as well, Scott’s stellar work ethics and helpful farm boy mentality extended to the IT/ET realm of the office. When office IT/ET Marcus Langkilde was on leave for medical reasons, Scott was quick to help the Met Techs repair the door of the domed building that houses the TRS (Telemetry Receiving System). Scott’s can-do, always available for help attitude has been a wonderful example to his co-workers and the simple steps of resetting GPS and TRS when needed.

The NOAA National Weather Service, WSO Pago staff wishes all the best for Scott and his wife Kim and their children, Tyler and Abby. Manuia tele oe ma le aiga pele. “Tofa, my feleni!”

NOAA/NWS Weather Service Office Pago Pago staff at last year’s Christmas celebration. Scott Rozanski is pictured back row, left. [courtesy photo]