This collection features oral histories with NOAA staff who researched our oceans, atmosphere, climate, and weather.
![Scuba diver conducting underwater research (Image credit: NOAA) Scuba diver conducting underwater research](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_width_1275/public/2023-01/conduct-res-dev.jpg?h=21ac6a93&itok=Vxh_dgZe)
(Image credit: NOAA)
![Dick Rutkowski, NOAA Diving Program
Tenure at NOAA: 1970-1985
ESSA, NOAA’s predecessor agency:1965-1970
Dick Rutkowski, NOAA Diving Program
Tenure at NOAA: 1970-1985
ESSA, NOAA’s predecessor agency:1965-1970](/sites/default/files/styles/square_width_325/public/legacy/image/2020/Aug/PHOTO-Dick%20Rutkowski%20of%20NOAA%20Dive%20Program-237x237-square.jpg?itok=T2RuDan9)
In 1973, there were no hyperbaric chambers anywhere in South Florida for treating recreational divers with decompression sickness, so Dick Rutkowski set out along with a local dive club to find one - and, they got it.
![Jerome "Nick" Heffter stands before an art display. Jerome "Nick" Heffter stands before an art display.](/sites/default/files/styles/square_width_325/public/2023-02/Jerome_Nick_Heffter_FIX.jpg?h=aa256497&itok=Uz6kX3Fs)
Jerome “Nick” Heffter, a meteorologist and modeler with NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory, was a pioneer in modeling the dispersion of nuclear radiation and other atmospheric pollutants during the Cold War era.
![Pam Heinselman, National Severe Storms Laboratory
Tenure at NOAA: 2009-present
NSSL affiliate: 1995-2009
Pam Heinselman, National Severe Storms Laboratory
Tenure at NOAA: 2009-present
NSSL affiliate: 1995-2009](/sites/default/files/styles/square_width_325/public/legacy/image/2020/Jul/PHOTO-Pam%20Heinselman-01092020-237x237-square.jpg?itok=D0_28N79)
When Dr. Pam Heinselman first joined NOAA as a summer intern with the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, she was interested in analyzing weather radar data. Instead, she found herself out in the field.