Jack May
American Meteorological Society Centennial Oral History Project
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/
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. In addition to his work at the NOAA, May has also worked in the private sector, including as a consultant for Delta Airlines. May has been recognized for his contributions to the field of aviation meteorology and has received numerous awards, including the National Weather Service Isaac M. Cline Award and the Federal Aviation Administration Award for Excellence in Aviation Weather.
Scope and Content Note
May explains that there is a science aspect to his work and a public service aspect and how he has focused on the public service aspect for most of his career, rather than technical work. May discusses his multifaceted work for the National Weather Center and how he would move frequently for jobs. He talks about how he became the meteorologist in charge for the state of Kansas and then the Deputy Regional Director for the Central Region. Other topics discussed are the increasing ease of getting information, May’s current work for AvMet applications, which is a contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the ways in which the FAA is an authority in the professional field of weather. May explains the importance of making weather products better and segmenting data into more easily usable information for those in the aviation community. He believes the next challenge is getting the aviation community to standardize the way that it uses weather data. Finally, May explains that his interest in the weather began when he was a child wanting to learn more about predicting snow and the lake effect. He mentions his switch from aerospace engineering to meteorology.
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