(Candidate by Petition)

This is a pivotal moment for the AMS and I am committed to ensuring our continued relevance and impact.

Our Society—and the sciences we represent—face serious challenges related to sustainability, support, and strategic direction. At the same time, we have powerful opportunities to better serve our discipline and society.

We need creative, realistic, and informed leadership. The next president must be ready to lead from day one—and that requires a deep understanding of AMS’s strengths, its challenges, and its people.

The world around us is changing, and AMS must evolve to remain strong. With reductions in federal support for environmental sciences, we face significant financial pressures. I will work to reduce meeting and conference costs, expand continuing education opportunities, and ensure members have the tools to sharpen their skills and stay connected.

We must grow our community and explore new sources of revenue. One path forward is engaging more directly with the large meteorology-interested public, using modern media platforms to foster education, dialogue, and outreach.

In the past year, concerns about the future of U.S. weather forecasting have deepened. As president, I will ensure that research and operational meteorology—including forecasting—remain a core pillar of AMS’s mission and programming. I will work to elevate public awareness of the societal value of atmospheric research.  

AMS must provide national leadership on issues where we hold deep expertise. In an increasingly polarized environment, I will support the Society’s efforts to deliver balanced, nonpartisan analysis on critical meteorological and climate issues—contributions that help inform sound policy.

Finally, I will champion our student members. I propose a student mentorship program connecting students with AMS professionals, and an outreach initiative to engage K–12 students and teachers in the science we love.

AMS has been my professional home for over 20 years. I’ve served as STAC Commissioner, Secretary-Treasurer, and as a member or chair of numerous boards and committees—from Finance and Investments to Membership and Awards.  As Council and Executive Committee Parliamentarian, I’ve gained a unique perspective on how AMS operates—and how it can work better for all of us.

Thank you for your support and for your commitment to AMS. Together, we can build a more engaged, more inclusive, and more impactful Society.

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Bruce Telfeyan has devoted over five decades to advancing meteorology and serving the AMS with distinction. A member since 1970, he has held influential roles across the Society, including chairing the Weather Analysis and Forecasting Committee and the Board for Operational Government Meteorologists. He has also served on the Local Chapter Affairs Committee, the Board for Enterprise Planning, the Finance and Investment Committees, the Awards Oversight Committee, and the Membership Committee. From 2013 to 2019, he served as Commissioner of the Scientific and Technological Activities Commission (STAC), and recently completed a four-year term as AMS Secretary-Treasurer. In that role, he led a constitutional amendment to ratification expanding student member voting rights and volunteer opportunities—helping AMS remain inclusive and relevant in a changing world.

Bruce’s 48-year career spans operational forecasting, leadership, and innovation. After earning a master’s degree in meteorology from Cornell University, he served in key U.S. Air Force roles worldwide, including as Director of Meteorology and Oceanography for NATO forces in Turkey during the Gulf War. He retired as a lieutenant colonel and continued as a senior civilian meteorologist with the 557th Weather Wing, where he led forecasting operations and directed development of the Interactive Grid Analysis and Display System (IGrADS).

He provided critical forecasting support for global balloon flight attempts by Steve Fossett and Kevin Uliassi and is a graduate of the Air War College and other advanced professional development programs. His honors include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

Bruce and his wife Connie reside in Papillion, Nebraska. He is the proud father of two and grandfather of five.