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. Despite this setback, Franklin was offered a job at HRD, which he accepted even before completing his master's degree. He eventually completed his master's degree two years later, with his thesis defense taking place on a yacht. Throughout his career, Franklin was encouraged to pursue a Ph.D., but he chose not to, a decision that did not limit his career progression.

Scope and Content Note
This interview with James Franklin, conducted by Jinny Nathans, the archivist at AMS, on April 17th, 2018, provides an insightful look into Franklin's academic journey and career in meteorology. Franklin shares a unique story about how he obtained his master's degree from MIT. He recounts an incident where crucial data for his original thesis on the New England coastal front was accidentally overwritten, forcing him to change his thesis topic. Despite this setback, he was offered a job at HRD and began his career with NOAA. Franklin eventually completed his master's degree two years later, with his thesis defense notably taking place on a yacht. He also discusses his decision not to pursue a Ph.D., a choice that did not hinder his career progression. The interview concludes with Franklin reflecting on his rewarding career with NOAA, which ended in 2017.