Peter Black is a renowned meteorologist who has dedicated his life to the study of weather, particularly hurricanes and tropical storms. His interest in meteorology began at a young age, sparked by his experience with Hurricane Carol in Boston in 1955 when he was just 12 years old. This event ignited a fascination with the power of nature and led him to pursue a career in meteorology. Throughout his high school years, Black nurtured his interest in weather as a hobby. When it came time for college, he sought out a meteorology school where he could learn more about tropical storms.

Peter Neilley is a renowned meteorologist who discovered his passion for the field at a young age. Growing up in the Northeast, he was fascinated by snowstorms and aspired to forecast them more accurately than the meteorologists he saw on television. Neilley pursued his interest in meteorology through high school and into college, attending McGill University for his undergraduate studies in meteorology. Despite his immersion in the field, he was unsure of his career path until his undergraduate advisor, Roddy Rogers, encouraged him to apply for graduate school at MIT, Rogers' alma mater.

James Franklin is a retired meteorologist who spent 35 years of his career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). His tenure was divided between the Hurricane Research Division (HRD) and the National Hurricane Center. Franklin's journey in meteorology began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he pursued his master's degree. His initial thesis was focused on the study of the New England coastal front. However, due to an unfortunate incident involving the loss of crucial data, he had to change his thesis topic.

Arlene Laing is a distinguished meteorologist who currently serves as the coordinating director designate for the Caribbean Meteorological Organization, a coordinating agency for sixteen English-speaking Caribbean territories with meteorological services. She began her role in this position in June 2018. Laing's educational background includes a degree in meteorology from the University of the West Indies, and a Master’s and PhD in meteorology from Penn State University.

Vijay Tallapragada is a seasoned meteorologist with over twenty-five years of experience in the field. His journey in meteorology began with a master's degree in Andhra University in India, where he was introduced to the fascinating subject of meteorology and atmospheric sciences. Despite the initial struggle due to limited access to information, Vijay was encouraged to continue further and pursued another Master's in atmospheric sciences.

Ligia Bernardet is a meteorologist who has made significant contributions to the field of weather prediction. She grew up in Brazil and initially considered becoming a history teacher, following in her parents' footsteps who were in the humanities. However, her interest in the flow of small objects and how things move around in space led her to study meteorology at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Bernardet's first job out of university was at the Weather Prediction Center for a sugarcane plantation, which was part of a university consortium working with sugarcane.

Becky DePodwin is a meteorologist who is focused on emergency management, risk communication and hazard preparedness.  She has worked for companies such as Accuweather and Guidehouse and is active in mentoring meteorologists in the private sector. 

Scope and Content Note

Dan Keyser is a distinguished meteorologist who began his career at an early age through an unpaid internship as a meteorological technician at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia between 1964 and 1971. His interest in weather was sparked in fifth grade when his teacher introduced a weather unit to the class. Keyser attended Penn State from 1971 through 1981, earning a B.S. in 1975, M.S. in 1977, and Ph.D. in 1981. During his time at Penn State, Rick Anthes was his adviser for all three degrees and had a profound influence on his career.

Chris Landsea is a prominent meteorologist who has made significant contributions to the field of hurricane research. He began his career as a graduate student at Colorado State University in 1988, where he had the opportunity to work with the renowned scientist, Dr. Bill Gray. During his time as a student, Landsea had the unique opportunity to fly into hurricanes for research purposes. His first flight was into Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, which turned out to be the strongest hurricane ever observed at the time.

Steve Koch is a seasoned atmospheric scientist with a rich career spanning academia, government, and research institutions. He began his journey in the field of atmospheric sciences around 1974. Koch's early career involved working with Mike Kaplan, Mel Shapiro, and Dan Keyser, where he developed a keen interest in the dynamics of inertial gravity waves and their significant role in organized convection, tornado outbreaks, and downstream development at larger scales. Koch's academic journey led him to the University of Oklahoma, where he completed his doctorate in 1974.