Center Weather Service Unit Information

What is your educational background?

"Atmospheric Sciences from the University of North Dakota."
Describe the career path that led you to your current job with the National Weather Service.

"I worked as a General Forecaster at three WFOs and as a Lead Forecaster at one location before decideing the CWSU was my best career option. The CWSU was the best option for me as I was craving face to fface customer interaction and direct feedback; I got what I came for!"
Please describe your current position at the CWSU.

"I provide support to ZMP personnel to help achieve safety and efficiency across the National Airspace System. This is achieved by immersing myself in the operations of my FAA partners and providing them with specific, detailed weather information on demand. I produce and present a minimum of sic specific briefings a day, while fulfilling requests from a variety of FAA partners. This includes air traffic controllers wanting up to the second data to FAA Command Center managers wanting multiple day outlooks for strategic planning purposes."
What is an example of Impact-Based Decision Support Service (IDSS) that you provide?

"I provide IDSS in multiple platforms to a variety of customers routinely but also on-demand. Our "bread and butter" tasks are the routine stand-up briefings given three times a day. These briefings are geared toward supervisors and management as an overview and "heads up" of weather impacts for the current shift. These briefings also bring about important discussion points including staffing considerations and overtime usage based on expected weather."
What is the most significant/impactful event you have worked at the CWSU?

"One of the most significant events I’ve worked while at the CWSU were the snow events in the days surrounding Super Bowl LII. With traffic increased multi-fold over normal, weather was even more critical. This was especially true as certain airports/runways were used for parking and were thus unavailable for their intended purpose. Certain snow and wind combinations made for difficult decisions by all involved parties leading to a dramatic increase in on-demand briefings as well as simply putting extra emphasis on my work so I could produce the most accurate and timely forecast possible."
What advice would you give to others who are interested in working at a CWSU?

"Deciding to come work at a CWSU is a sidestep (not a downgrade) in your overall career path. Aviation weather is a branch of meteorology that takes not only quick decision making but also humility. Weather impacts to the aviation industry routinely cost huge amounts of both time and money. Knowing you are a part of the team that makes the critical decision at that crucial moment is more than fulfilling as you are the definition of IDSS. "

What is your educational background?

"Creighton University; B.S. & M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences."
Describe the career path that led you to your current job with the National Weather Service.

"Upon graduating from Creighton University, I was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force (USAF) as a weather officer. I served just over 10 years in the USAF at Fort Polk (LA), Kunsan Air Base (South Korea), Scott Air Force Base (IL), Wheeler Army Airfield (HI), and Offutt Air Force Base (NE) and was fortunate to have the opportunity to lead multiple USAF weather units. I also deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base (Saudi Arabia) to provide IDSS at the Combined Air Operations Center and I deployed to Bagram Airfield (Afghanistan), to provide IDSS to Combined Joint Task Force-76. After separating from the USAF, I completed my Master's Degree at Creighton University, then was hired into the NWS as an intern at the Billings Weather Forecast Office. After working in the Billings WFO for just under 5 years, I was hired to work as a meteorologist at the ZDC CWSU."
Please describe your current position at the CWSU.

"As NWS meteorologists at ZDC's Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), my co-workers and I provide aviation weather hazard-related impact-based decision support services (IDSS) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within one of the busiest corridors of the National Airspace System (NAS)."
What is an example of Impact-Based Decision Support Service (IDSS) that you provide?

"During thunderstorm season, the ZDC CWSU provides a Severe Weather Avoidance Plan (SWAP) forecast for ZDC's airspace. This SWAP forecast includes an outlook of how we think convection will evolve across ZDC's airspace and which jet routes/important airports within ZDC's airspace are most likely to be impacted by convection (and when). We provide the SWAP forecast to ZDC's Supervisory Traffic Management Coordinator (STMC) in the morning; it is designed as a planning tool for the rest of the day."
What is the most significant/impactful event you have worked at the CWSU?

"Nearly every day during thunderstorm season, there is a significant/impactful event because of where ZDC's airspace is located within the NAS and because of how compact/complex the jet routes are within ZDC's airspace. Discounting the myriad significant thunderstorm events, the most impactful events I've worked include the late January 2016 blizzard, which shut down operations at multiple airports across ZDC for several days, and an event in the 2019-2020 winter that featured more than 30 severe turbulence pilot reports (pireps) across ZDC's airspace in a single day."
What advice would you give to others who are interested in working at a CWSU?

"Working at a CWSU is a great way to lead NWS IDSS efforts and build partnerships; CWSUs are embedded in FAA ARTCCs, so meteorologists at CWSUs provide tailored IDSS directly to a core NWS partner. Working in a CWSU is also a good way to hone your briefing skills and to learn some FAA lingo! Be prepared to learn about and forecast for a different set of weather hazards - those that are aviation-focused and somewhat subjective (examples include turbulence and icing). As part of a CWSU, you'll get to work both in a team environment and by yourself - you will be the sole meteorologist on shift a majority of the time. If a bit of experience/career-broadening appeals to you, working at a CWSU is right up your alley!"

What is your educational background?

"Meteorology- University of Northern Colorado. Aerospace- Middle Tennessee State University."
Describe the career path that led you to your current job with the National Weather Service.

"I worked as a broadcast meteorologist, university flight school dispatcher, and a Flight Service pilot weather briefer before joining the CWSU. My background in television helped develop my communication skills, while my experience in aviation gave me a strong understanding of how pilots and air traffic controllers are impacted by weather hazards."
Please describe your current position at the CWSU.

"I am a senior aviation weather forecaster and decision support specialist for FAA air traffic control. In addition to advising air traffic management and traffic planners about weather-related impacts, I also serve as the primary weather training lead for forecasters, air traffic controllers, and pilots."
What is an example of Impact-Based Decision Support Service (IDSS) that you provide?

"Everything we do in the CWSU is IDSS! Providing traffic planners with information about convection in high-impact locations is one of the most important types of briefings we do. They need lead time to coordinate with affected facilities, so a CWSU meteorologist needs to anticipate what information they need and be proactive."
What is the most significant/impactful event you have worked at the CWSU?

"The "Great American Eclipse" in August 2017 created unique and unprecedented challenges for general aviation and some of the smaller airports in the ZKC airspace along the path of totality. Working the morning of the eclipse, I was responsible for forecasting weather along the path of totality and advising our FAA partners which airports were most likely to be in demand. That event provided many lessons and best practices that will help our facility prepare for the next total eclipse."
What advice would you give to others who are interested in working at a CWSU?

"Get to know aviation! Talk to pilots. Get involved in the aviation program in your office. Outreach to pilot groups. Explore aviation forecast products and see how they fit together. Take a familiarization trip to your closest CWSU."

What is your educational background?

"BS Atmospheric Sciences-University of Washington, MS-Meteorology-Naval Postgraduate School, MBA-Pepperdine University"
Describe the career path that led you to your current job with the National Weather Service.

"My career in meteorology began in the US Air Force. In the Air Force, I forecasted for locations all around the world and included being stationed in Alaska, Turkey, California, and Illinois. My last duty assignment was at Scott AFB, Illinois which provides backup services for the Aviation Weather Center and Storm Prediction Center. I applied on USAJOBS for a position at the Aviation Weather Center and was selected for a meteorologist position. I worked at the Aviation Weather Center for five and a half years, then I applied for the CWSU MIC position in Miami on USAJOBS. I was selected and have worked at the Miami CWSU since August 2016."
Please describe your current position at the CWSU.

"I am the Meteorologist in Charge (MIC) at the Miami CWSU responsible for a team of four providing Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) to the FAA Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center and underlying facilities. I am responsible for the quality and timeliness of all warning and forecast products prepared and issued by the CWSU staff. I conduct a weather watch, which involves interpretation of Doppler radar data and satellite imagery and the analysis of other meteorological and hydrologic data. I provide weather advice and guidance to FAA managers at the local and regional levels during severe and hazardous weather situations, as well as handle general office administrative matters. I lead and coordinate operational staff efforts and provide direction, guidance, instructions and assistance to the staff."
What is an example of Impact-Based Decision Support Service (IDSS) that you provide?

"An example of IDSS that the Miami CWSU routinely provides are daily weather briefings to the local FAA Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACONs) and FAA Towers about wind direction and speed. I know that if the winds are forecasted to switch direction from east to west in the near future, the FAA TRACONs and Towers need to plan ahead to route the aircraft with a plan to not cause a disruption to operations. If the FAA controllers do not have this information it could cause delays and extra fuel being used which causes the operators of the planes to lose money."
What is the most significant/impactful event you have worked at the CWSU?

"I have worked many significant weather events over the past few years at the Miami CWSU. The event that stays with me the most is Hurricane Irma. During the event, multiple airport weather sensors failed with only a few sensors that were able to survive the hurricane. For three hours during the event, the Miami CWSU provided in near real-time the strength of the winds used to compute wind shear alerts to other NWS partners about the strength of the threat. In addition to hurricane threats to FAA operations, a major solar flare occurred at the height of Irma making landfall in Florida. I was able to communicate the strength of the solar flare to the FAA decision makers which allowed the disruption to be minimized. After Irma had moved out of Florida the recovery efforts began for the area but many airport weather observation equipment remained out. The Miami CWSU for a time had to estimate what the surface pressure was for different airports and wind direction for airports not supported with a TAF for relief operations in the region."
What advice would you give to others who are interested in working at a CWSU?

"I encourage prospective CWSU meteorologists to reach out to current CWSU meteorologists to hear what it takes to be a great meteorologist at a CWSU. Also, a meteorologist could train on aviation weather topics like air turbulence, aircraft icing, and thunderstorm forecasts for aviation users."

What is your educational background?

"Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott Campus) B.S. Applied Meteorology W/ Mathematic Minor, and B.S. Aeronautics."
Describe the career path that led you to your current job with the National Weather Service.

"After studying at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, I was hired by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. I worked in a variety of offices around Australia, including the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC). My last position in Australia was as a meteorologist embedded within the Airservices Australia's (their FAA equivalent) National Operations Center (NOC). It was an IDSS role where I would brief on the aviation weather hazards for both the Brisbane and Melbourne Flight Information Regions (FIR), as well as forecast the hourly arrival rates for the four busiest airports in Australia.

I also spent time working at Qantas Airline as a meteorologist, forecasting wherever they operated. One challenging part of the role was to determine when Australian airports had to be shut due to lightning proximity, and when it was safe to resume work.

In late 2017, I joined the NWS as a member of the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit/Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (AAWU/A-VAAC). This gave me experience forecasting for the Anchorage FIR. I learned a lot about the complex geography in the area, as well as the challenges of forecasting in the arctic.

When the opportunity arose in late 2019 to work at the CWSU, I took the opportunity as it allowed me to use my skills I have developed over my career. I get to work face to face with my customers, and I see the impact of the advice I provide in real time."
Please describe your current position at the CWSU.

"I am the Meteorologist in Charge (MIC). I was the Acting MIC from late September 2019, and became the permanent MIC in Feb 2020."
What is an example of Impact-Based Decision Support Service (IDSS) that you provide?

"Volcanic Ash is a significant aviation hazard that we provide IDSS to the FAA controllers.

We have a lot of volcanoes in Alaska, and in Russia to our west. When the volcanoes erupt, we coordinate with the Anchorage VAAC and provide warnings to the FAA about the impacts to the aircraft in flight, and the possibility of airspace being impacted. The impact can be for days on end with significant eruptions, such as Raikoke in June 2019. There was impact to a lot of flights heading to/from Asia via Anchorage and transiting Anchorage FIR.

We also get resuspended ash from 1912 Novarupta-Katmai eruption. The winds will pick up the ash to 4,000ft at times and impact low level flights. "
What is the most significant/impactful event you have worked at the CWSU?

"So far, the COVID-19 change in how we conduct business has been the biggest challenge. We have, as a group, been able to adapt and overcome the evolving requirements while maintaining the same level of service to the FAA previously. "
What advice would you give to others who are interested in working at a CWSU?

"Contact a CWSU MIC and see if there is an opportunity to visit, and possibly to observe a shift or two. Speak with the meteorologists who work there and ask questions. Speak with the FAA controllers too and see what they like.

Some qualities you need to have to be successful include the ability to work independently and to have self confidence. You are often the only meteorologist on site, and you need to be able to answer questions with little to no lead time. If you do not have confidence in yourself, your customers will know it and will be wary of your advice. Be honest with the controllers and let them know what aspects of the forecast you have high confidence in, and where you have more uncertainty.

Learn more about aviation meteorology than just how to write a TAF. Learn about the other aviation meteorology products and the impact they can have on the National Airspace System (NAS)."

Thunderstorms	Turbulence	Icing	Heavy Precipitation	Freezing Precipitation
Low IFR	Surface wind gust > 30kts	Low-level wind shear	Volcanic ash	Dust or sandstorms