AMS Directory of
Weather and Climate Enterprise People

Bill Gail is Director of Strategic Development within Virtual Earth at Microsoft Corporation, with responsibility for expanding the capabilities of Virtual Earth and its use throughout the community. He was previously Vice President of the Mapping and Photogrammetric Solutions division at Vexcel Corporation (acquired in 2006 by Microsoft), where he directed a global organization responsible for a range of Earth information systems and services. Prior to joining Vexcel, he was Director of Earth Science Advanced Programs at Ball Aerospace where he led the development of spaceborne instruments and missions for Earth science and meteorology. Dr. Gail received his undergraduate degree in Physics and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, focusing his research on wave-particle interactions in the Earth's magnetosphere. During this period, he spent a year as cosmic ray and upper atmospheric field scientist at South Pole Station. Dr. Gail is on the Board of Directors of Peak Weather Resources, Inc., is a member of the editorial boards for Imaging Notes magazine and the Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, and is the Director of Industry Relations for the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society. He is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Research Council's Earth Science and Applications from Space: A Community Assessment and Strategy for the Future (the Decadal Survey) and previously served as a member of the NRC Committee on Earth Studies (2002-05), the NRC Task Group on Principle Investigator-Led Earth Science Missions (2001-03), the NRC Committee on NASA-NOAA Transition from Research to Operations (2002-03), the NRC Committee to Review the NASA Earth Science Enterprise Strategic Plan (2003), and the NASA Earth Science and Applications from Space Strategic Roadmap Committee (2005). (5/2007)

Holly Hartmann is Interim Program Manager/Investigator for Hydrology and Water Resources with the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) program at the University of Arizona. Dr. Hartmann also is an Assistant Physical Scientist in the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, with experience in hydrologic modeling, water resources management, and water policy research. She leads projects on using hydroclimatic information for resource management, improving water and climate forecasts, assessing forecast skill, developing water resources scenarios, and developing decision support tools. Her work has been funded by NOAA, NSF, NASA, and the American Meteorological Society. Dr. Hartmann conducts training for National Weather Service meteorologists and hydrologists, and serves in committee and advisory capacity for the American Meteorological Society, the National Weather Service, the International Environmental Modeling and Software Society, and the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. She received her Ph.D. in Hydrology and Water Resources from the University of Arizona, and her M.S. in Water Resources Management from the University of Michigan. (3/2007)

Jack Henz is a Professional Associate, senior project manager and leader of the Meteorology Group in HDR Engineering, Inc. He serves as the HDR National Technical advisor in Hydro-Meteorology. Mr. Henz is currently the manager of projects dealing with extreme precipitation event analysis using GIS for dam safety, water supply prediction using hydro-climate indices for major river systems in Colorado and Montana, development of flood warning systems, flood response plans and flood prediction, the use of radar-derived precipitation estimation for hydrologic model calibration and climate change/sustainability issues for design storms, energy and water supply clients. Prior to 2000, when HDR purchased Henz Meteorological Services, a private weather consulting firm, Mr. Henz was president of several private weather firms in Colorado, with the earliest started in 1973. Mr. Henz is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist. He has a B.S. in Meteorology from the University of Wisconsin and an M.S. in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University. Mr. Henz served two terms on the AMS Severe Local Storms Committee. He is a member of AMS, ASFPM, AGU, AWWA, ASDSO, CASFM, NHWC and AWRA. He authors professional papers, offers technical workshops and presents technical papers for each of these professional organizations as projects and time warrant. (3/2007)

Jack Kaye has served as Associate Director for Research for the Earth Science Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. since early 2006. His previous positions in his 23-year career with NASA include serving as Director of the Research and Analysis Program in the Earth-Sun System Division (2004-2006), Director of the Research Division in the Office of Earth Science (1999-2004), as Manager of the Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling and Analysis Program in that organization (1991-1999), and as a research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (1983-1991). He began his career as a Resident Research Associate at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory after receiving his academic training in chemistry (B.S. Adelphi University, 1976; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1982). As Associate Director for Research, Dr. Kaye is responsible for the research and data analysis programs for Earth System Science, covering the broad spectrum of scientific disciplines that constitute it. He represents NASA in many interagency and international activities and has been an active participant in the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), for which he now serves as a vice-chair, as well as NASA's representative to the Senior Users' Advisory Group for the National Polar Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System and to the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology. He recently completed a term as the head the Executive Committee (ExCOM) that oversaw the Oceans.US office that works to coordinate all oceans observation related activities across the federal government. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Global Climate Observing System, and served as co-chair of the Advisory and Oversight Panel of the Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP) activity carried out under the auspices of the World Climate Research Programme prior to its being reorganized as the Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observing Project of the Global Energy and Water Experiment. He has received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (1995), the NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1996), and the TERRA Award of the Office of Mission to Planet Earth (1995), and has been recognized with several Group Achievement and outstanding performance awards. In 2004 he was recognized as a Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service. He was elected to serve as co-secretary of the Atmospheric Sciences Section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for 1998-2000. The AGU has recognized him on two occasions with a Citation for Excellence in Refereeing. He has published more than 50 refereed papers, contributed to numerous reports, books, and encyclopedias, and edited the book Isotope Effects in Gas-Phase Chemistry for the American Chemical Society. (3/2007)

As a research associate for the Global Strategy Institute at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Laura Keating supports many of the institute's research initiatives. She directs the Global Water Futures project, an effort to identify policy and technology solutions to the world's growing water scarcity and quality challenges, and she coauthored the report, "Addressing Our Global Water Future." Ms. Keating has also been engaged in the Seven Revolutions and the Seven Futures initiatives, research efforts to outline the world of 2025 and identify the driving forces of change, and a new project on strategic planning across sectors. Ms. Keating joined CSIS in 2003. She earned a B.A. in East Asian studies from the Pennsylvania State University, where she was also a student of the Schreyer Honors College. As part of her Honors College experience, she studied abroad in Beijing and earned a certificate of Chinese language from Peking University's Chinese Language Center. (3/2007)

Delores Knipp, an expert on atmospheric and space physics, is Professor of Physics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, a position she has held since 1989. She has been associated with U.S. Air Force operations and education in terrestrial weather and space environment realms since 1977, and since 1987 has been actively engaged in the field of space weather. Prof. Knipp teaches a class on space weather for Academy undergraduates and is developing a space environment curriculum for space weather professionals. In addition, she is writing an undergraduate textbook entitled Space Weather and the Physics Behind It. Prof. Knipp holds four degrees in Atmospheric Science. Her Ph.D. and second M.S. are from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Her B.S, and first M.S. are from the University of Missouri. She is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and Squadron Officer School. Earlier in her career she was a Base Weather Forcaster and Staff Meteorologist at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and an Aerospace Science Officer at Peterson Air Force Base. (5/2007)

Bill Mahoney is a Program Director at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Research Applications Laboratory (NCAR/RAL), located in Boulder, Colorado. He has been involved in research and development activities at NCAR for 21 years. Mr. Mahoney received his M.S. degree from the University of Wyoming in 1983, specializing in windshear and cloud microphysics. He received his B.S. degree in Aeronautics from Miami University of Ohio in 1981. Mr. Mahoney's research and management activities have included aviation weather, intelligent weather forecast systems, societal impacts, energy, and surface transportation weather. Mr. Mahoney began working with NCAR as a University of Wyoming graduate student in 1981 studying thunderstorms and windshear associated with microbursts and gust fronts. He participated in the development of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Low Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS) and eventually led NCAR's team in the development and demonstration of the FAA Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR). Mr. Mahoney has also led several FAA and international government sponsored aviation weather programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Singapore with a particular emphasis on terminal and enroute weather decision support systems. Mr. Mahoney is currently working with several organizations including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), American Meteorological Society (AMS), Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA), Transportation Research Board (TRB), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on surface transportation weather initiatives. In addition to his program management duties, Mr. Mahoney is involved in program development and commercialization activities at NCAR. Mr. Mahoney has written or co-authored more than 40 papers and frequently presents NCAR's work at national and international conferences and seminars. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), Transportation Research Board (TRB), and Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA), and is active on several atmospheric science and surface transportation committees. Mr. Mahoney is the Chair of the AMS Board on Enterprise Economic Development, and a member of the Executive Committee of the AMS Commission on the Weather and Climate Enterprise. (2/2007)

Carole McGuire joined Lewis–Burke Associates, LLC after three decades of public service in the United States Congress. With 31 years' experience in budget, appropriations, and authorizing committee work in the United States Senate, Ms. McGuire has brought extensive knowledge about the operation and politics of Capitol Hill to her work with Lewis–Burke. Prior to joining Lewis–Burke in July 2005, Ms. McGuire served as Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee under the Chairmanship of Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-NM). As Deputy Staff Director, she handled budget and appropriations issues as well as working with Committee professional staff on a broad range of policy issues associated with the comprehensive Energy Policy Act passed in the summer of 2005, the Department of Energy civilian energy R&D programs, and the public lands and water agencies of the Department of Interior and the Forest Service. Before joining the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in January 2003, Ms. McGuire spent 27 years on the Senate Budget Committee, most recently as the Deputy Staff Director and Director of Appropriations. In her role as Director of Appropriations, she worked on the annual appropriations bills as the principal staffer to then Chairman Senator Pete V. Domenici, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. Ms. McGuire worked with Senate and House Leadership offices and Senate and House Appropriations Committee members and staff on a wide range of funding and policy issues, including science and technology and education issues. This experience gave her extensive knowledge of federal programs and the workings of the White House, Office of Management and Budget, and Executive Branch agencies. Ms. McGuire received her B.A. degree in Political Science from Western Washington State College in Bellingham, Washington in 1974. (2/2007)

Dave McLaughlin is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and is Director of the U. Mass. Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA). He earned his Ph.D. in 1989, and his B.S.E.E. in 1984, both at the University of Massachusetts. His research interests include microwave remote sensing, radar systems, and wireless networks. (3/2007)

Ron McPherson is Executive Director Emeritus of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). He served as the Executive Director from January 1999 until September 2004. The AMS is a nonprofit scientific and professional organization with a membership of over 12,000, representing the university, governmental, and private sectors of the atmospheric, oceanographic, and related sciences. Prior to AMS, he served for nearly 40 years with the National Weather Service, ending his career with eight years as the Director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). His responsibilities there included overall management of the nine centers comprising NCEP, including scientific and technical leadership, budget issues, personnel and policy. Earlier, Dr. McPherson served as Deputy Director for the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service is responsible for providing weather and flood warnings and forecasts for the United States and its coastal and offshore waters. The Weather Service employs approximately 5,000 people in more than 300 locations throughout the United States and its territories. Dr. McPherson has been extensively published in scientific journals including Journal of Applied Meteorology, Monthly Weather Review and Bulletin of American Meteorological Society. He earned the Department of Commerce Silver Medal and the Presidential Rank Award as an outstanding executive. He was elected Fellow of the AMS in 1981, and was elected AMS President for 1997. Dr. McPherson holds a Bachelors degree in Meteorology, a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.  He is married to the former Edith Noel Luce of Seguin, TX, and resides in Mitchellville, MD. (2/2006)

Paul Moersdorf is the Director of NOAA's National Data Buoy Center at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Dr. Moersdorf earned a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography (with a meteorology minor) from Old Dominion University in Virginia. Upon graduation he served on the Faculty of the Math and Computing Sciences Department at Old Dominion University. Dr. Moersdorf began his Federal career in 1978 when he joined the Naval Oceanographic Office to build oceanographic data bases for acoustic models. He moved to the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command in 1984 and he became Director of the Space Oceanography Program. In 1989, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff for Program Integration and charged with programming, planning and budgeting for meteorological and oceanographic equipment worldwide. In July 1994, he became the Scientific and Technical Director at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey. There he led initiatives to upgrade the atmospheric and oceanographic prediction models and totally replace all supercomputing equipment. Dr. Moersdorf was named Director of the National Weather Service's National Data Buoy Center in January 2000, responsible for collecting data to improve coastal marine weather warnings and forecasts. Since then, the Center's responsibility has grown three-fold and has new responsibilities for ocean observations, including being a member of NOAA's Integrated Ocean Obseving System team. Under his leadership, the National Data Buoy Center received the Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award for work associated with tsunami detection technology, and was honored by a U.S. Congressional Resolution applauding efforts to reconstruct hurricane damaged sites between hurricanes. During his tenure with the Navy, Dr. Moersdorf was awarded the Navy's highest civilian award in 2000, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award; and the Navy's Superior Civilian Service Award in 1991 and 1994. (3/2007)

Jim O'Sullivan is the Surface Observation Lead and current Acting Chief of the Observing Services Division within the NWS Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services. He is also the Manager of the National Cooperative Observer Program. Dr. O'Sullivan manages development of policy, requirements and procedures, and any necessary technical documents in support NWS' surface observing practices and various observing programs, such as the Cooperative Observer Program. In addition, Dr. O'Sullivan serves as the program coordinator for NOAA's Surface Weather Program, which is working within NOAA and with external private and public partners, such as the Federal Highway Administration, to make access, collection, quality control, and distribution of many environmental observational sources easier for NOAA's forecasts, warnings, and essential services as well as for users' growing data and metadata needs. Prior to his current position, Dr. O'Sullivan was in the NWS Office of Science and Techonology as focal point for several areas, including environmental modeling, transportation, and space weather, and before that at NOAA Research headquarters, where advised that line office's senior management on meteorological-related scientific policy and budget matters. His research background is as a numerical modeler and included working closely with several NWS Central Region's Weather Forecast Offices installing and running local mesoscale models. (3/2007)

John Pereira is the Team Lead for the Requirements Collection and Analysis Team within the NESDIS Office of Systems Development. His team serves as the single focal point in NOAA to collect, document, and analyze all observational requirements identified by NOAA Goals and Programs, in order to determine the most effective mix of NOAA investments in observation and data management system technologies. The organization maintains these requirements in the Consolidated Observational Requirements List (CORL), which serves as the foundation for observation system investment analyses. These analyses support recommendations for budget and program planning, help focus NOAA research and technology initiatives on high-priority user requirements, and aid in the transition of these initiatives into NOAA operations. Prior to his current role, Mr. Pereira served in numerous positions in NOAA/NESDIS from September 1992 until he moved into his current position in October 2006. Prior to his career in NOAA, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a weather officer from 1983 to 1992. Before transferring to NOAA, he served as the Air Force weather liaison to NESDIS and NCEP beginning in 1990. He continued his military career, as a part-time reservist in the Air National Guard, from 1992 to 1999, and in the Air Force Reserve, from 2000 until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Pereira earned a B.S. in meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University in 1983, and an M.S. in meteorology from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1990. (3/2007)

Brenda Philips is Director of Industry, Government, and End-User Partnerships in the Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) at the University of Massachusetts. (2/2006)

After receiving his Ph.D. in Fluid Physics and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics in 1973 from the University of Washington, Dr. Pietrafesa joined the faculty at North Carolina State University and was made Full Professor in 1980. He has served as the Head of the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Director of the University Honors Council and Dean for Research and Director of the Center for Severe Storms in the Southeast. Presently he is Associate Dean for External Affairs, College of Physical and Mathematical Science and Director of the NOAA Cooperative on Climate and Weather Impacts on Society and the Environment. His research and publications are diverse and include system wide modeling of wind and density driven circulation in coastal and estuary systems, modeling coastal storm induced surge, flood and inundation for advanced predictions, modeling and validating the interaction between the atmosphere and ocean in storm genesis and modification, modeling and validating wave- current interactive coupling, determining the climatology of the frequency of occurrence and tracks of tropical cyclones both in the Atlantic and Pacific, participating in the creation of the seasonal outlook for the number of land-falling hurricanes along U.S. coastlines, determining coastal sea level variability over climate to event scales, creating an on the fly data assessment tool, creating an extra-tropical cyclogenesis detection tool, worked to create a two way interactively coupled model of the ocean and atmosphere, assessing the temporal variability of precipitation and river discharge, determining the relationships between atmospheric and oceanic state variables and numbers of storms to the year class strength of estuarine dependent finfish, and coupling natural hazards to societal impacts. He discovered the mechanisms for the topographic deflection of the Gulf Stream at the site of the "Charleston Bump" and creation of the "Charleston Trough" and coined the air-sea interaction term "buoyancy stress". Recent foci are on the linkages between weather and climate and human disease, end to end modeling of physical through human systems and building a real time reporting coastal air-sea observing network offshore of the Carolinas in which data is assimilated into interactively coupled atmospheric-ocean models. He is widely published and his service includes being Chair of the NOAA Science Advisory Board (FACA), Chair of the USA-Peoples Republic of China Steering Committee on Virtual Collaboratories, Chair, NASULGC Board on Oceans and Atmosphere, Chair of the Council on Ocean Affairs, the precursor to CORE, a member of the AGU Public Policy Committee, a two term member of the Board of Trustees of UCAR, a member of the WRP Scientific Steering Committee, a member of the NOAA Climate Working Group and a member of the NASULGC National Task Force on Water. He has appeared before the U.S. Congress, the Senate and the House, on multiple occasions as an expert witness on climate, weather and ocean issues. (5/2007)

Bob Plante is a Research Associate with the Sasaki Institute at the University of Oklahoma. (3/2007)

Sean Potter is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist, the President of the National Council of Industrial Meteorologists, the Principal of Weather Detectives, and a science writer. He also works as a meteorologist for ABC News, where he produces the weather segments for the weekend edition of Good Morning America. He has a diverse background of work in both the public and private sectors. Mr. Potter began his career working as a broadcast meteorologist and reporter for KYMA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Yuma, Arizona, where he received the AMS Seal of Approval for Television Weathercasting. After receiving a master's degree, Mr. Potter served two years as the service climatologist for the Southeast Regional Climate Center (SERCC), one of six Regional Climate Centers in the nation. In this capacity, he oversaw requests for weather and climate data, serving a wide range of customers from academia to legal and insurance industries. During his tenure at the SERCC, he was among a select group of people who received specialized training in climate data and services at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Potter also has worked for a variety of organizations in the Washington, D.C., area, including the National Weather Service Headquarters and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, on detail to U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Currently, Mr. Potter resides in New York City, where he provides meteorological consulting and science writing services. Mr. Potter is a member of the American Meteorological Society; the National Weather Association; the National Council of Industrial Meteorologists; the International Commission on History of Meteorology; and the National Association of Science Writers. In addition, he is a contributing editor to Weatherwise magazine, he writes a Weatherwise column, "Retrospect," which appears bimonthly, and he contributes answers to the Ask the Experts weather questions for USA TODAY and USA TODAY.com. Mr. Potter holds a B.S. degree in Meteorology from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and an M.S. degree from the Atmospheric Science Program (Dept. of Geography) at Indiana University. (3/2007)

Gary Rasmussen is Director of Enterprise Activity Support for the American Meteorological Society. In this capacity he supports the AMS Commission on the Weather and Climate Enterprise. In addition, Dr. Rasmussen is the primary AMS contact for its Corporate members. He joined AMS in 1999, and works in their Boston Headquarters office. Prior to joining AMS, Dr. Rasmussen worked for Applied Insurance Research, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, The Analytic Sciences Corporation (TASC), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and Drexel University. He holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Physics and Atmospheric Science from Drexel University, and a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics (double major) from the College of New Jersey. After high school and before college he volunteered for the draft, went to the U.S. Army's radio operator, radioteletype operator, and jump schools, and then served with the 82nd Airborne Division. Dr. Rasmussen is married and has four grown children. He lives in southern New Hampshire. (5/2007)

Scott Rayder is the first Chief of Staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and has served in this position since 2001. In this capacity, he reports directly to NOAA Administrator Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.) and serves as the chief adviser on policy, personnel and budget matters. Mr. Rayder oversees a staff of 115 people with a $25 million budget that directly support the NOAA Administrator. Mr. Rayder is charged with integrating policy and budget priorities and aligning programs in support of the NOAA strategic plan and budget of $3.9 billion (FY 2006). Mr. Rayder works with NOAA senior management to ensure that NOAA programs are delivering products and services to the taxpayer in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Mr. Rayder works closely with NOAA's partnering organizations and plays a key role in communicating NOAA priorities to the Department of Commerce, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress. Before joining NOAA, Mr. Rayder was the Director of Government Relations at the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) from January of 2001 to December of 2001. In this capacity he developed and implemented CORE's legislative strategy in conjunction with CORE's executive staff as well as the CORE Board of Governors. Prior to his work at CORE, Mr. Rayder was a Senior Technology Policy Analyst with The Heritage Foundation from April of 2000 to January of 2001. His areas of interest related to technology policy included privacy, tort reform, research and development, research and development tax credits, and cyber-security issues. He also worked on general science, regulatory, and budget-related matters. From 1997 to April of 2000, Mr. Rayder served as a Professional Staff member with the House Committee on Science. His duties were primarily related to the budget and appropriations cycles. He also conducted oversight on a number of programs/issues that included the Advanced Technology Program, Mir Space Station, U.S. ocean science programs, and U.S. satellite technologies. Prior to 1997, Mr. Rayder was employed by NOAA in several capacities. In 1992, he was awarded a Presidential Management Intern position with NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). Mr. Rayder left OAR in 1995 to work in NOAA's Office of Constituent Affairs where he worked with NOAA stakeholders to improve the delivery of NOAA services to its customers. Mr. Rayder obtained his undergraduate degree in 1990 from Hamilton College in New York, with a dual major in Government and Geology. He obtained a Masters in Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University in the spring of 1992, with a concentration in Science and Technology Policy. He is married to Catherine Rayder, formerly Catherine DuBois of Reston, Virginia, and they reside in Reston, Virginia with their twin daughters, Hannah and Jenna and son Christopher. (3/2007)

As director of the Office of Government Affairs at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, Ms. Schmidt focuses on educating members of Congress about the importance of atmospheric science. She also tries to maximize funding for UCAR, NCAR, and the UCAR Community. With colleagues Jeff Fiedler, Laura Curtis, and Gloria Kelly, Ms. Schmidt holds briefings on the Hill about priorities in the atmospheric sciences, prepares testimony for congressional hearings, works with allies in the scientific community, and employs Lewis–Burke Associates, a veteran Washington D.C. lobbying firm. Ms. Schmidt joined UCAR in 1990 from the CU Foundation, where she worked as a director of development. Active in the local community, she serves on the board of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. At UCAR, she started as the director of the former Office of Development, then took her current position in 1995. (3/2007)

Keith Seitter was named Executive Director of the American Meteorological Society in September 2004. He has served as Deputy Executive Director of the Society since 1999. Dr. Seitter joined the AMS in the early 1990s as Assistant to the Executive Director in the role of leading the Society's publications department. His primary job was to improve the efficiency of the Society's journal production process and prepare for the eventual transition of the journals to electronic delivery, at a time when the Internet was just beginning to flourish. Today all nine prestigious AMS journals are available online. As Deputy Director, Dr. Seitter was involved in all aspects of the Society's programs including moving the many AMS Specialty and Annual Meeting toward electronic submission and dissemination of author's materials, implementing the recommendations from the 10-Year Vision Study, and continuing working with the publications department. Before joining the AMS, Dr. Seitter was on the faculty at the University of Lowell, now University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He earned his undergraduate degree in meteorology at the Pennsylvania State University and a doctorate in geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago. A native of Marion, Ohio, Seitter had a postdoctoral appointment at the Air Force Geophysical Laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base before moving to the University of Lowell. Dr. Seitter is a Fellow of the AMS and a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society. He is also a member of many other societies and organizations in the sciences and scholarly publishing and serves on a number of advisory boards. He has given numerous invited lectures and published a number of papers in AMS and other scientific and publishing journals. The AMS, founded in 1919, is the nation's leading professional society for those involved in the atmospheric and related sciences. With more than 12,000 members, the Society promotes the development and dissemination of information on atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences through scientific journals, conferences, and public education programs across the country. (2/2007)

Kevin Stewart is President of the National Hydrologic Warning Council and Manager of the Information Services and Flood Warning Program of the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District in Denver, Colorado. The program is responsible for operating and maintaining a widely-used automated flood detection network known as the ALERT system. This large network consists of 176 stations that monitor rainfall, stream levels and weather conditions in real-time. Flood prediction and notification is another component of the Districts flood warning program. Since 1979 this activity has employed the services of a private meteorological firm to prepare tailored quantitative precipitation forecasts concerning potential flood threats, and to notify local governments when conditions warrant. Before joining the District staff in 1984, Mr. Stewart worked for an engineering consulting firm in Lakewood, Colorado. Prior to that, he was with the State of Iowa's floodplain management program where he served as the state coordinator for National Flood Insurance Program. Mr. Stewart is a Civil Engineering graduate of Iowa State University and is a registered professional engineer. (3/2007)

Albert Teich is Director of Science and Policy Programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a position he has held since 1990. He is responsible for the Association's activities in science and technology policy and serves as a key spokesman on science policy issues. Dr. Teich also serves as director of the AAAS Archives. Dr. Teich received a B.S. degree in physics and a Ph.D. in political science, both from M.I.T. Prior to joining the AAAS staff in 1980, he held positions at George Washington University, the State University of New York, and Syracuse University. He is the author of numerous articles and editor of several books, including Technology and the Future, a widely used textbook on technology and society. More on Dr. Teich's career can be found at his personal web site. (3/2007)

Mark Udall is serving his fifth term representing Colorado's Second Congressional District. The second district straddles the Continental Divide and includes the northwest Denver suburban parts of Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Jefferson and Weld Counties, and the mountain and resort communities of Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Summit and Eagle Counties. Congressman Udall is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Science and Technology, and the House Natural Resources Committee. He previously served on the Small Business and Agriculture Committees. His committee assignments have given him a platform to address many issues important to Colorado, including national security, energy, education, health care, technology, environment and transportation. Congressman Udall serves as the ranking member on the Committee on Science's Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. In addition, he is the co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, and is a recognized national leader in promoting a balanced national energy plan. Congressman Udall is also a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Congressman Udall's operating style has been to avoid burning bridges with people, including those with whom he has philosophical differences. "You can disagree without being disagreeable," says Congressman Udall. This style has allowed him to work in a bipartisan fashion to pass legislation to turn Rocky Flats, the former nuclear weapons facility, into a wildlife refuge, protect many of Colorado's wilderness areas, establish a math and science scholarship program, and secure transportation funding for high-priority projects in Colorado. In describing Congressman Udall's work the Denver Post calls him "a tireless worker" and says he has "been effective largely because he puts the public's business ahead of partisan concern." The Rocky Mountain News says, "time and again he's reached across the political aisle to craft a compromise solution to some sticky political problem." The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel calls him "conscientious," "highly capable" and "energetic." Congressman Udall made his entrance into politics in 1997 as a representative in the Colorado State House, and he is no stranger to the world of public service. His father, Morris "Mo" Udall, served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years and ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 1976. His uncle, Stewart, is widely revered for his accomplishments while serving as Secretary of the Interior under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Congressman Udall was born on July 18, 1950, in Tucson, Arizona, and has spent his entire adult life in Colorado. After graduating from Williams College in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in American Civilization, he moved to Colorado's western slope and began a long and successful career with the Colorado Outward Bound School, as a course director and educator from 1975-85 and as the organization's Executive Director from 1985-95. Taking the challenges of his career into his own life, Congressman Udall is an avid mountaineer and has climbed or attempted some of the world's most challenging peaks, including Mt. Everest. He and his wife, prominent attorney and conservationist Maggie Fox, have two children: a son Jed and a daughter Tess. They live near Eldorado Springs in Boulder County. (2/2007)

Olcay Unver is a Visiting Distinguished Professor in the Water Resources Research Institute at Kent State University. He is the former Head of the Regional Development Administration of the Southeastern Anatolia Project, which oversees Turkey's Great Anatolia Project (GAP). He was the administrative manager of the far-flung GAP that included numerous dams, reservoirs, hydro plants, and irrigation projects in Southeastern Turkey. These undertakings have given the region a new economic outlook. Dr. Unver earned a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. He also earned the M.S. and B.S degrees in Civil Engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey in 1979 and 1981. He has held a series of positions with increasing responsibility with GAP; was a consultant with the Water Resources and Irrigation Consulting/Software Company, IRRISCO (U.S.); a Water Resources Engineer with the Lower Colorado River Authority; a Private Consultant on water supply and distribution in Ankara; a Project Engineer at Dicle University (Turkey), and a full-time Research Associate with the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Uncer is a Founding Member of the Euphrates-Tigris Initiative for Cooperation. He is or has been: a Member of the Board of Governors and Treasurer of the World Water Council (France); Fellow, Secretary General, and Vice President for the Europe and Middle East Region of the International Water Resources Association (U.S.); a Council Member of the International Hydropower Association (U.K.); one of 14 invited members worldwide of the Club of Tokyo (Japan); a Member of Agribusiness Council of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Foundation (U.S.); Chair of the International Steering Committee for the 12th World Water Congress of the International Water Resources Association (India); a Science Fellow/Scholar for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and an Honor Fellow for the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council. He has won the World Water Council Award and Medal; the Award of Appreciation for service to civil society and non-governmental organizations by the Youth Association of Turkey; the Award of Recognition of Minister of Culture of Turkey, for contribution to preservation of cultural heritage; the Civil Servant of the Year award by readers of Turkish Weekly Intermedya Ekonomi; the Agricultural Sector Award by the Agriculturalists Association of Turkey (three times); and the Honor Roll in Sports special award in recognition of contribution to water sports (Turkey). Dr. Unver is a member of the editorial boards of the International Journal of Water Resources Development and Hydro Review Worldwide. He is a Founding Member and Secretary General of the Society for Conservation and Promotion of Zeugma (Turkey); Honorary Governor of the Agricultural Energy and Mechanization Foundation of Turkey; Chairman of the GAP Entrepreneur Support and Guidance Centers (Turkey); and a member of the National Olympics Committee of Turkey. (3/2007)

Baxter Vieux is Presidential Professor and Director, Center for Natural Hazards and Disaster Research at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Vieux's recent and continuing research focuses on the integration of spatial analysis techniques with advanced computational algorithms for simulation of hydrologic and environmental processes. His computational interests include finite element/finite difference methods, and application of adjoint and optimal control techniques to calibration of distributed rainfall-runoff models. Computing environments targeted include dedicated workstations, distributed, parallel and supercomputers. Considering the many spatially distributed parameters affecting hydrologic processes, geographic information systems (GIS) are integral to the simulation of environmental processes. Aspects include assessment of spatial variability, effects of resolution, and parameter uncertainties; simulation of hydrologic processes using soil maps to model infiltration; NEXRAD radar rainfall to drive soil moisture, water and energy flux balances across regional scales; simulation of water and sediment transport using finite element/finite difference solutions of the Saint-Venant equations; and water quality modeling of watershed processes. Dr. Vieux hold the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from the Kansas State University, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University. He is a registered professional engineer in Kansas, Michigan and Oklahoma. (3/2007)

Jean Vieux is CEO and President of Vieux, Inc. Ms. Vieux manages the company's day-to-day operations and provides project management. She has served as the Principal Investigator for GIS, radar rainfall and real-time hydrologic modeling projects and is engaged in technology development and integration. Ms. Vieux serves on the Surface Transportation Committee and the Board on Enterprise Economic Development of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and on the Collection Systems Committee of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). She also represents the company industrial partnership with an NSF funded engineering center that has a mission to develop new weather radar hardware and systems that leverage low cost networks of radars for hydrologic applications. Ms. Vieux has an M.S. degree in Environmental Science. (3/2007)