Description
This highly experienced meteorologist and aviation weather expert brings more than 35 years of leadership, operational, and research experience across the private sector, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the United States Air Force. As Owner/President of a weather consulting firm, he provides weather forecasting, forensic weather analysis, consulting, environmental assessments, and expert testimony, having contributed to more than 50 cases involving weather-related factors.
He previously held senior leadership roles at the FAA, including Division Manager of the Aviation Weather Division and Manager of the Aviation Weather Research Branch, where he led multimillion-dollar programs focused on improving weather decision support tools and aviation safety. Earlier in his career, he worked in private industry as a senior meteorologist and capture manager, and served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a weather officer, retiring with the rank of Major.
He holds an M.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Meteorology from North Carolina State University. He is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) through the American Meteorological Society and has received numerous professional honors, including designation as an AMS Fellow (2025). His extensive publication and presentation record reflects deep expertise in aviation weather, satellite applications, radar, lightning, turbulence, and operational decision support.
Education
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
M.S. Meteorology 1996
Thesis: A Lightning summary and decision model for thunderstorm prediction at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
B.S. Meteorology 1987
Air Command and Staff College (US Air Force) 2001
Squadron Officer School (US Air Force) 1994
Professional Experience
Bass Weather Services, LLC, Waynesboro, VA
Owner/President 2015 – Present
Provide services in areas such as weather forecasting; consulting; expert witness testimony; fact witness; accident investigation; weather forensics; and environmental assessments and analysis to include compliance to standards. Provide accurate and timely forecasts to industry, including timing and intensity of weather that may impact operations. Conduct comprehensive investigations to determine the conditions, circumstances, causes and impacts due to past weather events and phenomena. Deliver honest, in-depth finding via written report and/or verbal testimony to include depositions and court hearings. Assisted in over 50 cases where weather was a factor.
Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC
Division Manager 2022 – 2024
Manager of the Aviation Weather Division—led team of 30+ personnel and $20+M budget formulating requirements, managing applied research projects, and transitioning successful research projects to operations to improve weather decision support tools and minimize the impact of weather on the National Airspace System and aviation.
Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC
Physical Scientist Manager 2018 – 2022
Managed the Aviation Weather Research Branch—led team of eight personnel managing and funding applied aviation weather research projects. Also led the Advanced Weather Radar Techniques program, which conducts research and development of radar technologies for aviation weather applications. Recognized meteorological subject matter expert throughout the agency.
Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC
Physical Scientist 2012 – 2018
Managed the convective weather research program, to include research to operations, to improve aviation operations and mitigate impacts of weather on flight. This research was primarily concerned with thunderstorms, lightning, and associated phenomena for both CONUS and offshore areas.
Exelis, Inc, Herndon, VA
Capture Manager and Senior Meteorologist 2008 – 2012
Investigated and pursued potential business opportunities related to weather and the environment. Managed data compression and distribution programs to meet environmental data processing requirements and led an initiative to provide real-time surveillance of weather events using existing open-source camera infrastructures.
United States Air Force
Weather Officer (Major) 1988-2008
Honorably retired after 20 years as an Air Force Meteorologist with assignments throughout the United States and three deployments overseas to support various contingencies. Supported a myriad of aircraft types in all kinds of weather conditions and spent almost 10 years supporting the Intelligence Community and satellite operations. Served at headquarters level and in the field as a Flight Commander with expertise
in operational weather support.
Current Certifications
Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM)
American Meteorological Society (AMS), License #703 2014
The CCM designation is issued by the AMS to highly qualified meteorologists providing research and
services to a wide variety of users of weather information. It is granted only to those who demonstrate a broad background in meteorology and climate services together with detailed knowledge in a particular field of specialization, along with strong ethical and professional standards. Certification gives users of meteorological services greater confidence in the quality and reliability of the products or services they receive.
Contracting Officer Representative – Level III
Federal Aviation Administration 2013
Program Manager – Level I
Federal Aviation Administration 2013
Awards
Defense Meritorious Service Medal 2002 – 2005
Meritorious Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster 1996 – 1999, 2006 – 2008
Joint Service Commendation Medal 2005 – 2006
Air Force Commendation Medal 1989 – 1994
Air Force Achievement Medal 2001
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 service stars 1990 – 2001
Air & Space Campaign Medal 2002 – 2008
AMS Fellow 2025
Publications and Papers
Overview of Calculations Used to Measure Weather Elements Within the ASOS and AWOS
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA 2025
Federal Aviation Administration Service Update
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD 2024
FAA’s Weather Community of Interest Overview
Presentation at Friends and Partners of Aviation Weather (FPAW) Workshop,
Tysons, VA 2023
Federal Aviation Administration Service Update
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Denver, CO 2023
User Needs of NOAA Products and Services for Aviation
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Denver, CO 2023
Deriving Turbulence Information from Routine Aircraft Surveillance Data
Presentation at National Weather Association (NWA) Annual Meeting,
Pittsburgh, PA 2022
Implementing New and Future Weather Satellite Data into Operational Aviation Products and Decisions
Presentation at the 25ᵗʰ Conference on Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography,
and Climatology, Madison, WI 2022
Aviation Weather 101
Presentation to Experimental Aircraft Association at Air Venture, Oshkosh, WI 2022
Weather Research Drivers for the FAA
Presentation at FPAW, Tysons, VA 2022
FAA Weather Satellite Uses and Needs
Virtual Presentation at NOAA Pathfinder Initiative Town Hall 2022
Offshore Precipitation Capability for Air Traffic Control
The Journal of Air Traffic Control 2021
Deriving Weather Information from Terrestrial Cameras
Virtual presentation at ENVI Users Symposium 2020
Deriving Weather Information from Terrestrial Cameras
Virtual presentation at NWA Annual Conference 2020
Aviation Weather Research Activities at the Federal Aviation Administration
Poster presented at NWA Annual Conference, Huntsville, AL 2019
Using Cameras as Weather Sensors – Deriving Weather Data from Images
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ 2019
Integrating Weather Satellite Data into Operational Aviation Products and Decisions
Presentation at NWA Annual Conference, St Louis, MO 2018
Implementing GOES-16 Data into Operational Aviation Products
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Austin, TX 2018
Enhanced Ceiling and Visibility Information for Alaska
Presentation at NWA Annual Conference, Garden Grove, CA 2017
NOAA Satellite Conference GOES-R User Testimonials Session
Panelist representing the FAA at NOAA Satellite Conference, New York, NY 2017
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Convective Weather Research Program
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA 2017
The FAA’s Advanced Weather Radar Techniques Program
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA 2016
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Offshore Precipitation Capability Program
Presentation at NWA Annual Conference, Norfolk, VA 2016
Ground Delays from Lightning Ramp Closures and Decision Uncertainties
Air Traffic Control Quarterly 2015
Survey of Lightning Warning Procedures for Ramp Closures at US Airports
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ 2015
Balancing Safety and Efficiency of Aircraft Operations Under Lightning Threats
The Journal of Air Traffic Control 2013
The Value of Weather Data: Who Should Pay For Emerging Services?
AOL Government http://gov.aol.com/2012/06/07/the-value-of-
weather-data-who-should-pay-for-emerging-services/ 2012
Effect of the Earth Science Decadal Survey on NASA and NOAA— Three Years Later
Presentation at AMS Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA 2010
Space-based Sensors for Monitoring Global Climate Trends
Meteorological Technology International Magazine 2010
The Need for New and Improved Satellite Data for Regional Climate Models (RCM)
Poster presented at NWA Annual Conference, Norfolk, VA 2010
Improving Resolution – New Capabilities in Satellite Imaging
Meteorological Technology International Magazine 2010
Blizzard Out of the Blue
Air Force Weather Observer 2001
Memberships
American Meteorological Society
National Weather Association
Association of Certified Meteorologists (ACM)
Served on Board of Directors – ACM (2021-2023)
Served on Board of Certified Consulting Meteorologists (2018-2022)