I am running for AMS Council to make the AMS an organization that represents and supports the underserved weather community, ensuring that the AMS represents ALL of its members and those that should be members. To flourish, AMS needs to grow by including those who now feel unrepresented.

As a retired Air Force officer and Federal Aviation Administration employee, I know there are almost 7,000 military meteorologists and oceanographers, and the vast majority are not AMS members. Furthermore, while AMS has many National Weather Service employees as members, numerous other meteorologists and weather support personnel throughout the federal government and aviation community aren’t members. 

I will work to change this.

As a Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM), I know firsthand the value of the AMS certification programs. Whether you’re a CCM, a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, a Certified AMS Teacher, or a Certified Digital Meteorologist, you should be proud to be associated with the AMS. I pledge to be a voice for these groups and their ideals, and promote these programs within and outside of AMS.

We are now in a period of change and challenge for the AMS. Large numbers of those in the weather and climate community are not AMS members or participants in AMS activities. To ensure the survival of AMS, the association must grow and become more inclusive of our community, as well as provide outreach and be a beacon of scientific knowledge to the general population.

If elected I will work tirelessly to represent all members, bring in new members, and ensure the Society promotes excellence in weather, climate, and water.

Randall (Randy) G. Bass has over 35 years of weather experience spanning the military, private and commercial industry, and government. He obtained the Certified Consulting Meteorologist designation through AMS in 2014, and in 2015 started Bass Weather Services, specializing in business consulting, expert witness testimony, and forecasting support. He provides advice, subject matter expertise, and research on current and planned activities to businesses in all aspects of the commercial and government weather enterprise. Randy has also assisted in over 50 legal cases, determining if weather was a factor in litigation, and if so, the extent of the impact of weather for such incidents as accidents, structural damage, and even criminal investigations.  

Mr. Bass began his career as an Air Force weather officer, retiring in 2008. He provided weather support to bases and military aircraft throughout the US, including three deployments overseas in support of contingency operations, and spent almost half his career supporting the Intelligence Community and satellite operations.

From 2008 until 2012, Randy was a Senior Meteorologist for ITT Exelis (now L3Harris) in Herndon, VA. He researched prospective opportunities and developed business case analyses for weather, aviation, and space programs and pursuits.

In 2012 Mr. Bass joined the Federal Aviation Administration, retiring in November, 2024. He oversaw the Convective Weather Research Program and managed the Weather Research Branch before being named the manager of the Aviation Weather Division in 2022. He led a team of 30+ personnel and a $20+M budget formulating requirements, managing applied research projects, and transitioning successful research projects into operations to minimize the impact of weather on aviation. 

Randy earned his BS in Meteorology from North Carolina State University and his MS in Meteorology from Texas A&M University. He lives in Waynesboro, VA with his wife Amy.