Our vision for the NHERI Network Coordination Office (NCO) is to serve as a focal point and leader of a multi-hazards research community, and to coordinate the activities of NHERI with the other awardee components to form a cohesive and fully integrated global natural hazards engineering research infrastructure that results in a collaborative effort that is greater than the sum of the individual components. The NCO will be a leader in building a multi-hazards research community by bringing the wind, earthquake, and associated water hazard communities together. We intend to build a broader community by: (i) integrating its input and assessment into the operations and activities of NHERI such as the NHERI Science Plan; (ii) providing clear and transparent procedures to access the infrastructure resources through centralized scheduling that its closely monitored for on-time delivery and provides a level access field; (iii) leading and organizing educational and outreach activities such as the NHERI Multi-hazards REU Program and Summer Institute for graduate students, junior faculty and professionals; and (iv) disseminating earthquake and wind engineering knowledge and impact. Through the integration of the two communities, the NCO will endeavor to lead community based efforts to catalyze and synthesize ideas into research initiatives to make substantial impact on reducing risks associated with earthquakes and wind in our society. NHERI-NCO goals are to lead the multi-hazards community, and coordinate with the other NHERI awardees to promote and facilitate the efforts of the collective community of researchers, educators and practitioners through unique and highly efficient shared facilities, including a RAPID and Simulation Center, and national and international partnerships all linked by a state-of-the-art cyberinfrastructure and data repository. NHERI and its user community will influence research, engineering, and policy and help create an inclusive cadre of research and engineering leaders of tomorrow. We will be responsible working with the community and our NHERI partners to develop the NHERI Science Plan. The NCO will lead and organize key educational and outreach activities working with the natural hazards engineering research and education community to develop the next generation of leaders in multi-hazards research, education and practice. The NCO strategy will advance the NHERI Science Plan and promote a strong partnership with the other nine awardees to foster a culture of excellence, transparency, safety, security, and efficiency for user service and leadership. Purdue University������������������s accomplishments and experience acquired during the highly successful management of NEES clearly indicate that it has the capability and resources to coordinate a team of this diversity in this complex and challenging endeavor. The NHERI-NCO will be located at Purdue University under the leadership of Prof. Julio A. Ramirez from the School of Civil Engineering. Joining Prof. Ramirez on a diverse multi-hazards team will be Dr. Cheryl Ann Blain from the Oceanography Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center; Prof. Antonio Bobet from Purdue University; Prof. JoAnn P. Browning from the University of Texas, San Antonio; Prof. Billy L. Edge from North Carolina State University, Mr. William T. Holmes from Oakland CA; Prof. Ian Robertson from the University of Hawaii at Manoa; Mr. Thomas Lee Smith from TLSmith Consulting Inc.; and Prof. Delong Zuo from Texas Tech University. This leadership team will be supported by a professional management team lead by Mr. Robert Dann Parker as full-time facility scheduler for NHERI and former Director of Site Operations for NEES.

Planning is underway to create offshore wind farms in North Carolina based around the larger class of turbines available today - from 5 to 8Mw. This project will help develop a clearer sense of what is required to create offshore wind farms, including the land-side staging support required, and the likely reception of this new technology by the public. If the ports are not currently capable of meeting the needs of the offshore wind industry for installation then the study will identify the modifications or new infrastructure that would be required. Another important element in the study is to provide an educational outreach to key stakeholders and gage their attitudes and economic valuation of offshore wind energy in the State. In addition to the above and a review of the European offshore wind experience, this effort will provide a complete summary of all studies under the ARRA conducted by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.