Bill Proenza resigned from his position as director of the US hurricane center after a short six months on the job, amidst clashes with the agency’s employees.

Anson Franklin, a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday that Bill Proenza had been put on leave and replaced by his deputy, Ed Rappaport, a long-time worker in the hurricane centre.

Proenza’s resignation came after almost half of the center’s employees signed a petition seeking Proenza’s leave. The cause of discontent between Proenza and the forecasters at the National Hurricane Center was an aging satellite.

Proenza argued that the loss of aging satellite QuickScat over the Atlantic Ocean would affect the accuracy of forecasts. He repeatedly criticized NOAA for not spending more on hurricane detecting technology. The hurricane center’s employees accuse Proenza of damaging their credibility with the public.

The agency’s meteorologists said Proenza’s claims undermined public confidence in the forecasters’ abilities and could lead to unnecessary loss of life and property.

They also noted that Proenza had no experience in tracking and forecasting hurricanes.

As to Rappaport’s appointment as director, National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said: “His focus is going to be on the 2007 hurricane season and the preparedness. We are closing in fast on the height of the 2007 hurricane season. We're moving forward.”