American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Jinny Nathans, Sophie Mankins
  • In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of theAmerican Meteorological Society, interviews were conducted with its many members and leaders.  These interviews serve to recognize the strength, diversity, and accomplishments of the AMS community, from the beginning right up to today.

    For more information, visit: ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams100/oral-histories/

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
John Brown American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

John Brown is a renowned meteorologist who developed an interest in weather at a very early age. Born and raised in San Diego, he recalls his earliest memories of rain showers coming in off the ocean, which played a significant role in his interest in meteorology. Brown pursued his passion for meteorology in his academic career, starting with a bachelor's and master's degree from UCLA, followed by a Ph.D. from MIT. He had the opportunity to work with the US Weather Bureau and the National Hurricane Research Project in Miami, which he believed would shape his career in studying hurricanes.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society
Patricia Vollmer American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Patricia Vollmer is an accomplished meteorologist and educator with a rich history in the field of weather forecasting and numerical weather prediction. She is currently an assistant professor at the United States Air Force Academy, where she has the opportunity to discuss her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated discipline with prospective future meteorologists, Air Force officers, and pilots. Vollmer's journey in meteorology began at Penn State, where she studied from 1991 to 1995. During her undergraduate years, she was inspired by Dr.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society
Lance Bosart American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Lance Bosart is a renowned meteorologist who developed an interest in weather and climate from a young age. His fascination with weather patterns and climate variations was sparked by the weather tables in the New York Times, which he read daily. He also learned elementary statistics from the backs of baseball cards, which furthered his understanding of weather and climate variations around the world. Bosart initially pursued aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, with a particular interest in the theoretical aspects of fluid or air flow around rockets or airplane wings.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society
Lixion Avila American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Lixion Avila is a senior forecaster at the National Hurricane Center with the longest tenure among the current forecasters. His interest in meteorology began on the north coast of Cuba, where he observed the weather's impact on the waves and the local mariners and farmers. He pursued his education in Havana and later at the University of Miami, where he earned his master's degree in 1984 and his PhD in 1993. Avila's career at the National Hurricane Center began when he was the youngest hurricane specialist in the United States.

Jinny Nathans Ponte Vedra, FL American Meteorological Society
Peter Black American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

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.

Jinny Nathans Ponte Vedra, FL American Meteorological Society
Peter Neilley American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

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.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society
James Franklin American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

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.

Jinny Nathans Ponte Vedra, FL American Meteorological Society
Arlene Laing American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

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.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society
Vijay Tallapragada American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

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.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society
Ligia Bernardet American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

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.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society