Newton, Chester, 1990-06-25

Oral History Interview with Chester Newton, 1990. Interviewed by Earl Droessler. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.): analog, mono. UCAR/NCAR 69; two physical versions (one master, one copy). Access restrictions; the interview may be examined by scholars approved by UCAR. Transcript (16 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. Chester Newton begins by describing the friendly community of scientists in the "Cockerell Hall Days" of NCAR in the early 1960s. He notes the synoptic meterology group including himself, Van de Boogaard and Van Loon, and especially Van Loon's climatology work. He then discusses the leadership of Roberts and Thompson and details the results of the Joint (NSF and UCAR) Evaluation Committee, including Roberts' resignation, Rex's development of the Atmospheric Technology Division and Newton's assignment to lead the effort to evaluate every NCAR scientist and devise an appointment system. He goes on to mention Firor's management skills, and the leadership of Bretherton, who was the first director who was a meteorologist. Newton discusses the politics of Goody's having not been appointed director and, later, the "rebellion" that kept him from leadership of the Climate Global Dynamics department, when Leith became head. He then touches upon Hess's leadership style and the relationship between NCAR and UCAR, and his view of the scope of UCAR's mission. He ends by describing the "renegade" synoptic group, and the accomplishments of its members.