Description

From Twister to Twisters: Getting the Science Right

Kevin Kelleher retired in 2018 as the Director of Earth System Research Laboratory’s (ESRL) Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) where he led a staff of more than 200 meteorologists, software engineers, and support staff dedicated to “making forecasts better.” GSL research provides the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) and the public with rapidly-updating environmental models, state-of-the-art decision support tools, innovative visualization systems, and high-performance computing technology to support commerce and a weather-ready nation. While serving as GSL Director, Kevin also served as the Director of the Earth System Research Laboratory for two years.

Prior to joining GSL in 2013, Kevin spent 26 years serving in various capacities at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, Oklahoma, including Acting Director, Deputy Director, and Chief Information Officer. In 1997, he served a 15-month detail at NOAA in Silver Spring to establish the CIO position for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Kevin returned to Norman in 1998 and became NSSL Deputy Director in 2001.

Kevin received the NOAA Technology Transfer Award in 2004 for his role in making high-resolution radar data available to government, academia, and the private industry over the Internet. He also received the NOAA Bronze Medal for his outstanding work leading high-performance networking enhancements for the NOAA/Norman Weather Partners and for fostering collaboration between the University of Oklahoma and the NOAA Weather Partners with the NOAA Advanced Research Network. In 2014, Kevin received a NOAA Administrator’s Award for his help to establish the first systematic approach and consistent voice for advancing the testing capabilities at NOAA testbeds and proving grounds. In 2015, he received a NOAA Administrator’s Award for successfully transitioning the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest system to operations within the NWS.

Kevin was the Technical Consultant for the 1996 movie Twister and the Tornado Consultant for the 2024 movie Twisters. Kevin holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma, in meteorology and computer science, and a Bachelor of Science in meteorology and mathematics from the State University of New York. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellow Program.