Expert Details
Hurricanes, Meteorology
ID: 736624
Florida, USA
Expert is meteorologist and a former Hurricane Specialist at the National Hurricane Center (NHC). He graduated with dual degrees in Meteorology and Spanish from the Florida State University and then finished a Master of Science in Meteorology at the same institution. He later pursued his doctoral studies at
the Colorado State University under the direction of a world renowned hurricane professor. Expert worked for several years in the private sector in the weather risk management industry. He then joined the federal work force and worked at the Weather Prediction Center at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction near Washington, D.C. Next, he was awarded a prestigious position as a Hurricane Specialist at the NHC where he worked for nearly a decade.
Expert is an accomplished public speaker, authority on hurricane genesis and climate-related issues, and an author of the 5-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook. Expert has conducted numerous training/educational lectures on hurricanes and independent research on hurricane-related projects. Since 2018, he has assumed a role as a Lead Meteorologist making Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts over southern and central Florida while serving as resident hurricane expert.
Skills:
McIDAS analysis/forecasting packages, Gempak, GRADS, Fortran, FTP and data compression utilities, UNIX/LINUX systems, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, ArcGIS, fluent in Spanish.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2000 | Degree: Ph.D. Studies | Subject: Atmospheric Science | Institution: Colorado State University |
| Year: 1996 | Degree: M.S. | Subject: Meteorology | Institution: Florida State University |
| Year: 1994 | Degree: B.S. | Subject: Meteorology | Institution: Florida State University |
| Year: 1994 | Degree: B.A. | Subject: Spanish | Institution: Florida State University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2018 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Conducted evaluations of FEMA courses with subject matter in meteorology or related topics to validate content and to ensure that curricula are current and relevant. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2018 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Senior Meteorologist | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Produced Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts out to 7 days for south and central Florida in support of SFWMD operations• Provided daily weather briefings on the forecast to water and emergency managers, field operation personnel, and executive leadership • Customized forecast products for individuals within the organization to assist them in better performing their job functions • Routinely monitored real-time rain gauge, Doppler radar and satellite data to assess rainfall and its potential impacts on operations • Evaluated and interpreted weather and climate model guidance to prepare intraseasonal (1 to 3 weeks) and monthly outlooks of rainfall for the District's area of responsibility • Served as the District's tropical cyclone expert and led training activities to educate District employees on hurricanes and their hazards • Provided real-time guidance and support before, during and after the SFWMD “lock down” associated with Hurricane Dorian • Coordinated and led portions of the annual Hurricane "Freddy" exercise designed to test District readiness for and preparedness against hurricanes threats • Assisted in writing District weather-related press releases regarding forecast rainfall and the management of water resources |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2017 | Employer: National Hurricane Center | Title: Hurricane Specialiset | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Analyzed and interpreted dynamical/statistical model guidance to prepare hurricane track and intensity forecasts. Composed tropical cyclone forecast advisory products and coordinated U.S. and international watches and warnings.• Identified weather systems with the potential for tropical cyclone development and generated probabilities of tropical cyclogenesis for these systems during the next 2 and 5 days for the Tropical Weather Outlook. • Briefed federal partners, emergency managers/state and local government officials on the official forecast over the Hurricane Hotline and via VCT. • Communicated forecasts and forecast uncertainty to the news media and public-at-large through print, radio, audio podcasts, and on-air TV interviews (in English and Spanish). • Helped develop and implement a pre-genesis watch and warning capability, which resulted in Potential Tropical Cyclone advisories beginning in the 2017 Hurricane season. • Participated in public outreach at open houses, elementary/high school Career Days, and webinars. • Contributed to the NOAA Seasonal Forecasts for the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins. • Recorded Public Service Announcements for Hurricane Preparedness Week in English and Spanish. • Coordinated the tasking of Air Force/NOAA aircraft reconnaissance to investigate suspect areas or tropical cyclones and constructed flight paths for NOAA G-IV synoptic surveillance missions. • Educated FEMA emergency managers annually at a short course on hurricanes as well as on understanding and using NHC products. • Educated international meteorologists from the Atlantic basin on hurricanes during the annual WMO conference. • Participated in the annual Hurricane Awareness Tour (HAT). • Worked with innovative researchers under the Joint Hurricane Testbed to bring new products into NHC operations that would assist in tropical cyclone forecasting. • Analyzed old and new post-storm data to make changes to the existing HURDAT as part of the Best Track Change Committee as well as to develop 'best' tracks for tropical cyclones and prepare end-of-season Tropical Cyclone Reports (TCRs). |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2008 | Employer: National Hurricane Center | Title: Meteorologist | Department: Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch |
Responsibilities:• Composed marine forecasts for the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Tropical North Atlantic, and Southwest Atlantic as well as High Seas forecasts for the Atlantic, eastern North and southeast Pacific.• Forecast 12-foot seas surrounding tropical cyclones, and performed Dvorak classifications during the hurricane season. • Monitored and tracked African easterly waves moving across the tropical Atlantic and eastern North Pacific using a variety of observational platforms. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2008 | Employer: Weather Prediction Center | Title: Meteorologist | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Interpreted model guidance to prepare a forecast package consisting of graphics depicting pressures, fronts, and areas/types of precipitation over the contiguous U.S., southern Canada, and adjacent ocean areas for the following two days.• Prepared a graphical surface analysis over North America and adjacent areas. • Assessed model uncertainty and noted key model differences in a product tailored for WFOs. • Routinely produced temperature, probability of precipitation, and quantity of precipitation forecasts for the next 3-7 days using model guidance, teleconnections, and intraseasonal oscillations. • Requested targeted observations aimed at improving predictability for significant winter weather events as part of the Winter Reconnaissance program. • Worked on the Winter Weather, Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting, and Lead Forecaster desks. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2004 | Employer: Weather Forecast Office | Title: Meteorologist | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Prepared and issued marine and weather forecasts for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.• Produced and transmitted Terminal Aerodome Forecasts for airports across the area to FAA Flight Services on hazardous weather as well as prevailing and forecast aviation weather. • Issued flash flood warnings for heavy rains events and river flooding. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2003 | Employer: Enron, Dynegy, and XL Weather & Energy | Title: Meteorologist/Trader | Department: |
Responsibilities:9/2000 – 12/2001, 1/2002-6/2002, and 10/2002-10/2003• Prepared a twice-daily weather briefing for trading managers, discussed potential weather impacts on natural gas, power, and futures markets, and devised strategies for traders based on short-term weather forecasts. • Ran a portfolio of weather trades for commonly traded cities on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Intercontinental Exchange Platform. • Integrated knowledge of weather and climate into monthly and seasonal trading strategies. • Produced temperature and precipitation outlooks to help manage agricultural deals over the Plains and Midwest. • Created, managed, and quality controlled data base of historical weather forecasts from third-party vendors and the government. • Used theses historical data to assess forecast skill, which served as input to a live trading system. • Conducted research on a range of atmospheric phenomena, studied their impacts on wintertime temperature, and gauged their predictability for trading purposes. • Developed an objective, statistical scheme for monthly and seasonal forecasting. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Seminole Leadership Fellows CSU Seasonal Hurricane Forecast Team NHC Spanish Hurricane Liaison Team NOAA Department of Homeland Security NOAA Seasonal Hurricane Forecast Team NHC Hurricane Support Meteorologist NOAA Support for Deep Water Horizon |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| CSU Graduate Student Fellowship National Hurricane Conference Outstanding Achievement Award for Creating and Implementing the 5-day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook Principal Creator of Spanish Language website Award for leading team to translate Hurricane FAQ into Spanish Regional Isaac Cline Awards for Spanish Outreach, 2 years |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Author of Hurricane Patricia post-storm report Co-Author of Hurricane Sandy post-storm report |