Nezette Rydell
NOAA Heritage Oral History Project
NOAA Heritage Oral History Project aims to document the history and legacy of NOAA through compelling interviews with its leaders. These firsthand accounts provide an invaluable resource that preserves NOAA's significant contributions to environmental research and management, fostering a deeper understanding of NOAA's vital role in shaping our understanding of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere.
Molly Graham
On October 19, 2021, Molly Graham interviewed Nezette Rydell remotely for the NOAA 50th Oral History Project. Rydell, born in 1955 in San Antonio, Texas, pursued a career in meteorology, influenced by early experiences with extreme weather events. She earned a degree in meteorology from Texas A&M University, where she was among the few women in the program. In the interview, Rydell discusses her formative years, family background, and the influence of the space race on her educational interests. She recalls her experiences at Texas A&M, navigating a male-dominated field, and the limited career opportunities for women in meteorology at the time. Rydell reflects on her path into the National Weather Service, highlighting the challenges of securing employment due to veterans' hiring preferences and the role of professional networks in advancing her career. She describes her early work experiences, the evolving role of women in the field, and the impact of the Weather Service’s Modernization and Associated Restructuring (MAR) initiative. Throughout the interview, Rydell shares insights into her contributions to weather forecasting and public outreach, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and communication in meteorology. She also discusses her later-career efforts to integrate technology and data analysis into forecasting.
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