The Department of Commerce NOAA Honor Award Ceremony was held at the Inn and Conference Center at the University of Maryland University College on October 24, 2003. Zane Schauer, Director for Human Resources Management, provided the introduction and announcements of each medal recipient as well as the closing. Vice Admiral Lautenbacher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, gave the address.

The four members of FSL's GFESuite Team, Mark Mathewson, Tom LeFebvre, Tracy Hansen, and Mike Romberg, were recipients of one of the 2003 Bronze Medal awards. The inscription on the plaque says:

"For leadership in creating software to allow all Weather Service offices to generate high-resolution, digital and graphical forecasts in real-time operations."