Speaking of the FGDC Annual Report...

Several folks in NSGIC leadership have called my attention to the naming of Bill Wilen as National Spatial Data Infrastructure Champion in the FGDC's 2009 Annual Report. The FGDC honors one champion in its report each year who "has taken a strong leadership role in the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)."

Mr. Wilen, Senior Wetland Scientist at the National Wetlands Inventory Center's Washington office, is chair of the FGDC’s Wetlands Subcommittee and is credited with helping to lead that group to produce the FGDC’s Wetlands Classification System and Wetlands Mapping Standard.

As the citation in the FGDC Annual Report, puts it:

Mr. Wilen’s leadership is well recognized within the geospatial community, as are his exemplary efforts to advance the management and preservation of wetlands. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s announcement of the adoption of the Wetlands Mapping Standard in August 2009 came about largely as a result of the tireless commitment, leadership, and dedication to the development of this standard by Mr. Wilen. It is in recognition of his trusted leadership within the NSDI community that Mr. Wilen is recognized as this year’s NSDI Champion.

Mr. Wilen also wins praise from those in the NSGIC community who have worked with him.

"I'd like to highlight his focus on Wetland Data for the Nation," noted NSGIC President Will Craig (MN). "He didn't call it that, but I will. He developed the NWI to meet the needs of all levels of government."

"Over the course of its 18 year history, the Minnesota Governor's Council on Geographic Information has given 24 awards; these are commendations signed by the Governor," Mr. Craig continued. "Wilen got the first of these in 1996 for the National Wetland Inventory. The NWI and NAIP are the only two federal programs that we have ever awarded."