Long-Time Billings Meteorologist In Charge To Retire

...Long-Time Billings Meteorologist In Charge Set to Retire February 25th…

On February 25 th , 2023, Keith Meier, the long-time Meteorologist In Charge for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Billings will retire with over 30 years of Federal service, all with the National Weather Service. Mr. Meier has served as the leader of the Billings office since August 2000, after coming to the Billings National Weather Service in April 1995, serving as the very first Science and Operations Officer for the Billings office. This was a new position within the National Weather Service as part of the Modernization and Restructuring of the National Weather Service.

During Mr. Meier’s tenure with the Billings office, he was intimately involved with expansion in the office’s mission and staff, moving from a staff of 5 in 1995 to a full staffing level of 23 by 1998. Mr. Meier was also involved with the initial deployment of the WSR-88D Doppler radar in 1995, the Advanced Weather Interactive Prediction System in the early 2000s, and numerous other technological and scientific technique implementations during the nearly 28 years he served at the Billings National Weather Service Office.

Prior to arriving in Billings, Keith served as a Meteorologist within the National Weather Service’s Western Region Headquarters, Scientific Services Division in Salt Lake City, from 1992-1995.

Prior to his time in Federal service, Mr. Meier held several other positions within meteorology, including a Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Broadcast Meteorologist and providing consultative services to weather clients. As Mr. Meier prepares for life after Federal service, he identified one of his greatest achievements as hiring and mentoring many National Weather Service staff members across the 30 years, in addition to providing world class weather services to the citizens of south-central Montana and northern Wyoming.