Helen Wood

Conservation Montgomery Advisory Council member Helen Wood has had a distinguished career at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), culminating in her leadership role in the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (“GEOSS”) program.  This effort involves more than 20 U.S. federal agencies and 80 governments around the world who cooperate in measuring and monitoring the Earth’s environment.  The GEOSS program connects environmental data and decision-support tools with the end users of these products to bring the relevance of Earth observations to bear in global issues such as understanding climate change, energy and water resources management, and improved weather forecasting.  You might say this Bethesda resident is transitioning from “global” to “local” with her new role in Conservation Montgomery.  Helen is also a recognized leader in national and international efforts aimed at reducing disaster losses through the improved use of science and technology. During her career with NOAA, she chaired  the President’s National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction from 2002 until September 2006, and served on the steering committee of the National Research Council Disasters Roundtable. In 2005, she served as deputy head of the U.S. delegation to the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, convened by the United Nations General Assembly and held in Kobe, Japan in 2005. Helen was a member of the U.S. Senior Executive Service, recipient of two U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medals, the Department’s Silver and Bronze Medals, and the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award. She holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Maryland and in computer science from The American University. She is also a member and treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Maplewood Park Homeowners Association in Bethesda, MD.   

Helen's lively spirit remind us of Henry David Thoreaus's words:

'In wildness is the preservation

of the world....'

Enjoy the following selection of photos from Helen's world travels.

So many adventures...Antarctica, January 2011 (above)

Ireland (above)