As of June 2022, Meteorologist in Charge, Portland, OR
A willingness to be adaptable helped me early in my career. I said “yes” to many opportunities, and ASKED about participating in opportunities that interested me, even when I wasn’t sure the answer would be “yes.” It was never a “no” which has taught me to always ask. It’s always a “no” if you don’t even try.
What do you do for the NWS?
First and foremost, assure the safety and wellness of our employees. Then, support our mission, and strategic goals. Next, provide our employees with the resources they need to develop their skills and reach their goals, giving them opportunities to shine. Lastly, I do the “laundry,” the administrative tasks such as certifying time cards, property inventory, budget, travel etc.
It’s also great that I can be on teams that work to make our workplace better for everyone. I’ve done this by being on regional, national and NOAA teams that focus on belongingness, inclusion, diversity, equity, and overall organizational health/positive culture.
What was the most interesting, exciting, or impactful weather/water event you experienced while working for the NWS and why does it stand out?
We set some outrageous snowfall records during the winter of 2010-11. Normal snowfall is around 30 inches and we had over 40 inches in January alone. We ended up with 108.6 inches of snow that season and then had record rainfall in May. We knew flooding was going to be a problem in January, and we started briefing our partners and then the public. We were on high-alert with outreach, services to partners, and issuing winter weather & flood products for eight months. I was so proud of our staff at NWS Glasgow from start to finish.
What made you decide to pursue a career with the NWS?
I grew up in Colorado and we could see really rapid changes in weather, all in one day. The Limon, CO F3 (before the Enhanced Fujita Scale!) tornado hit the summer before my senior year in High School and the destruction from it was pretty amazing for me to see. I had always liked and done well in science in school and decided that was the route for my future.
What do you like most about working for the NWS?
The People! From the talent of our staff, to those of our neighboring offices (and all of them really), to the great partners we get to work with and learn from, that is what I most love about the job. It makes me happy to know we've done a great job with a significant weather event, whether it's severe thunderstorms, flooding, winter weather or supporting a non-weather event such as a hazmat spill or wildfire. Our mission of protecting life and property is one I am very proud of as it is for every employee I have had the honor of working with and meeting, no matter their role in the agency.
What advice do you have for someone interested in a career with the NWS?
Be active in college in your field! Join the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and/or National Weather Association (NWA) and be part of their local chapters. Go to and present at conferences. Make your campus StormReady if it isn't already. Have your chapter/campus become a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador and then do activities with it! Volunteer at TV stations, NWS offices, and Emergency Management offices. There are a lot of people applying for NWS jobs, but you have to stand out from them all. It's not all about a 4.0, it's about how you can take the initiative and lead. Learn to say “yes” as you never know what opportunities will await you when you do. :)
Reach out to those in the field that you admire. At minimum, you may get no response and it only took a few minutes of your time. At the best, you develop a relationship with a coach or mentor who cheers for your success throughout your career.
What training or coursework would you recommend to someone interested in following your career path?
The college course requirements for meteorology are important, but don't forget courses such as communication, business management and leadership. Branch out into things such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), multimedia production, leadership, communication and project management. These additional classes can help separate yourself from the rest of the crowd.
The AMS Committee on Emergency Management has recommendations on their committee page for some courses that are relevant to the NWS Evolve and Weather Ready Nation initiatives.
COMET has a lot of the required courses meteorologists have to take in their first one to two years in the agency. Get them out of the way before you even get in the door, seeing them on your resume will get the attention of those reviewing the resumes and making decisions on who to interview.
