May 25, 2010 | It is often said that people are any organization’s most important asset. This is most certainly true in UCAR and NCAR’s case, and it is important to take this occasion of our 50th anniversary to remind ourselves of this truism. In my slightly more than 25 years here, working for and with our people and our many colleagues around the world, I am continually impressed by their hard work and dedication to the pursuit of truly worthwhile goals—pushing ahead on scientific frontiers that are crucial to the future of our planet, advancing technologies that support the science, and nurturing people of all ages to support their professional and personal growth.

While scientists and engineers get most of the attention in a scientific organization, everyone is essential to the success and health of an institution like ours. Excellence must be part of our administration and management, support staff, and program managers in our sponsoring agencies, as well as our scientists and engineers. Like the old strings of lights on Christmas trees, every bulb must burn brightly for the rest of the lights to shine; if any one light fails, the entire string fails.

And it’s not just having any people that is essential for success; it’s having the right people. While a complex organization like UCAR and NCAR relies on staff with a huge diversity of perspectives and skills, if I had to prioritize the two most important traits needed for success, I would put integrity first, followed closely by quality. We are fortunate to have so many staff who exemplify both.

World-class people are the foundation of a world-class institution. I salute all of you, including our colleagues and sponsors, who have worked so hard and contributed so much to UCAR and NCAR over our first 50 years.

—Rick Anthes, UCAR President

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