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.

Daniel Gilford is an atmospheric scientist who has had a lifelong fascination with the power and impact of hurricanes. His interest in meteorology was sparked by his personal experiences with hurricanes in Florida during the 2004 hurricane season, when he was just fifteen years old. He vividly recalls the awe-inspiring power of Hurricane Jean, which caused a tree to crash down near his home. Gilford pursued his interest in meteorology at Florida State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree [3].

Dr. Nadia Bloemendaal is a hurricane researcher and a professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She specializes in tropical meteorology, particularly in the areas of hurricane formation and intensity change. Dr. Bloemendaal earned her Ph.D. in atmospheric science from the University of Miami in 2011. Her research focuses on understanding the physical processes that control hurricane intensity, including the role of air-sea interactions, convection, and atmospheric dynamics.

Gary Lackmann is a professor at North Carolina State University in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Additionally, Lackmann is Editor in Chief of the journal Weather and Forecasting. His research interests include the prediction of severe storm events, improved numerical models and how diabatic processes impact storm dynamics. Lackmann holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY).