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 Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
George Kiladis American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

George Kiladis is a renowned atmospheric scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of tropical meteorology. Born and raised in the Boston area, Kiladis developed a love for science at a young age, with a particular interest in astronomy and weather phenomena. His fascination with the stars and the weather was further fueled by the occurrence of Hurricane Donna in the early 1960s. Kiladis attended high school in Somerville, where he took advanced courses in physics, math, and Fortran programming, which was quite unusual at the time.

Jinny Nathans Denver, CO American Meteorological Society
Jack Beven American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Jack Beven is a Senior Hurricane Specialist at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, a position he has held since 1999. Prior to this, he worked as a marine aviation forecaster for five years in the tropical analysis forecast branch. Beven's academic background is in physics and meteorology. He earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Louisiana State University in 1984, followed by a master's degree in meteorology in 1988 and a PhD in 1994, both from Florida State.

Jinny Nathans Ponte Vedra, FL American Meteorological Society
Jack May American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Jack May is an aviation meteorologist who has worked at the NOAA Aviation Weather Center and in the private sector. He is an expert in aviation weather forecasting and has contributed significantly to the development of aviation weather products and services. May is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in meteorology. He has worked for the NOAA Aviation Weather Center for over 30 years and has held several positions, including Branch Chief of the Analysis and Observations Branch and Deputy Chief of the Aviation Services Branch.

Jinny Nathans Phoenix, AZ 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
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
John Toohey-Morales American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

John Toohey-Morales is a renowned meteorologist known for his significant contributions to the field. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Toohey-Morales developed an interest in weather and atmospheric sciences at a young age, particularly influenced by the tropical cyclone threats that occasionally affected his homeland. His interest was further piqued by the devastating impact of Hurricane David in 1979, which led him to consider a career in meteorology. Toohey-Morales pursued his passion for atmospheric sciences at Cornell University.

Sophie Mankins Phoenix, AZ American Meteorological Society
Jordan Rabinowitz American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Jordan Rabinowitz is a Ph.D. student at the University of Missouri, specializing in meteorology. He is also the CEO and operations director of the Global Weather and Climate Center website, an organization dedicated to global weather, climate, and environmental education, communication, and awareness. Rabinowitz's interest in science and meteorology was sparked during his childhood in Long Island, where he developed a fascination with snowstorms. This fascination grew into an obsession, which eventually became a passion and led to his career in meteorology.

Jinny Nathans Ponte Vedra, FL American Meteorological Society
Kevin Kloesel American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Kevin Kloesel is a meteorologist with a unique career trajectory that intersects his passion for sports, particularly baseball, with his aptitude for meteorology. Kloesel's interest in meteorology was sparked during his youth when he noticed the impact of weather on his beloved baseball games. He attended the University of Texas for his undergraduate studies, initially focusing on engineering due to a scholarship. However, he discovered classes in meteorology and found them to be right up his alley. A faculty member, Dr.

Jinny Nathans Phoenix, AZ American Meteorological Society
Lakemariam Worku American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project

Lakemariam Worku is a 33-year-old atmospheric science PhD student from Ethiopia. He attended A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is currently working on his research. His interest in meteorology began in his childhood when he would visit a meteorology station with his friend whose father was a meteorology observer. This fascination led him to join the meteorology department at Arba Minch University in Ethiopia. After graduation, he worked for the national meteorology agency of Ethiopia for seven years before moving to the United States.

Jinny Nathans Unknown 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