THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINES PLANS THAT CONTINUE THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE'S (CPAESS) COLLABORATIONS WITH NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER AND THAT MANAGE THE JOINT CENTER FOR SATELLITE DATA ASSIMILATION (JCSDA) IN SUPPORT OF NASA MISSIONS AND ASSOCIATED SCIENCE. CPAESS WILL WORK WITH NASA TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR JCSDA ACTIVITIES. CPAESS PROPOSES A NEW TWO-YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NASA FOR THE PROPOSAL PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1 2017 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30 2019. IN SERVICE OF NASA'S GOALS FOR SUPPORTING JCSDA ACTIVITIES CPAESS BRINGS PROVEN EXPERTISE IN SCIENTIFIC SERVICE AREAS BY COORDINATING AND ADMINISTERING RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS IN OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR EARLY CAREER TO SENIOR LEVEL AND DISTINGUISHED SCIENTISTS. THESE APPOINTMENTS HELP ADVANCE RESEARCH TO OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES. CPAESS HAS ADMINISTERED NUMEROUS VISITOR AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS FOR FEDERAL PROGRAM SPONSORS INCLUDING SHORT-AND LONG-TERM APPOINTMENTS ASSOCIATED SUMMER SCHOOLS COLLOQUIA AND WORKSHOPS AND CONVENED EXPERT PEER-REVIEW WORKING GROUPS AND STEERING COMMITTEES. THE JCSDA'S MISSION IS TO ACCELERATE AND IMPROVE THE QUANTITATIVE USE OF RESEARCH AND OPERATIONAL SATELLITE DATA IN WEATHER OCEAN CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION SYSTEMS. THE MISSION WILL BE FULFILLED BY PROVIDING SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ORDER TO FULLY EXPLOIT THE ASSIMILATION OF SATELLITE DATA FOR OPERATIONAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES AND TO TRACK THE PROGRESS OF THE JCSDA SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS. THE DIRECTOR AND THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE TEAM WILL FACILITATE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COORDINATION TO PROVIDE DAY-TO-DAY LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE JCSDA TO ENSURE ONGOING ACTIVITIES ARE DIRECTED TOWARD THE GOALS AND RELATED ANNUAL DELIVERABLES OF THE JCSDA.