Scott M. Spratt  National Weather Service - Melbourne, Florida Tropical Weather Specialist Impact Meteorology Unit Program Leader      Contact by email

EDUCATION:

• University of Lowell (UL): Lowell, Massachusetts, BS (Meteorology) - 1988
• University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH): Honolulu, Hawaii, MS (Meteorology) - 1990

• WFO Melbourne, Florida (April 1998 - Present);  Senior Forecaster
• NWSO Melbourne, Florida (March 1993 - March 1998);  Journeyman Forecaster
• WSFO Jackson, Mississippi (March 1991 - February 1993);  Meteorologist Intern

• Tropical Cyclones
• Mesoscale Forecasting
• Radar Meteorology
• Applied Research 

AGE: 42

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Detailed to NWS New Orleans for the landfall of major Hurricane Katrina (2005). Primarily assisted staff with radar analyses, tornado warnings, and extreme wind warnings.   
   
• During a 6-week period during 2004, provided short-term forecast and warning services during the landfall and east central Florida transit of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne. Received American Meteorological Society (AMS) Special Award, National Weather Association (NWA) Larry R. Johnson Special Award, and NWS Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award.
   
• Principal Investigator for a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored sub-project between the National Weather Service and the Government of India, to improve tropical cyclone forecast and warning services within India. Traveled to New Delhi (2004 & 2005), and provided training to several visiting scientists in Florida (2005-06).
   
• Provided accurate & timely forecasts & warnings during the most devastating tornado outbreak in Florida's history (22-23 February 1998). Received AMS Award for Exceptional Specific Prediction, NWA Operational Achievement Group Award, NWS Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award, & NWS Southern Region Service Enhancement Gold Medal Award.

 
• Served as a member of the NWS Olympic forecast team. Responsible for forecast and warning support throughout the regatta offshore Savannah, Georgia during the 1995 trials and 1996 games. Received NWS Special Recognition Award.

 
• Experienced the following tropical cyclones first-hand: Andrew (1992; Montgomery, AL), Gordon (1994), Erin & Jerry (1995), Josephine (1996), Irene & Floyd (1999), Gabrielle (2001), and Isidore (2002, New Orleans, LA). Received NWS Southern Region Service Enhancement Silver Medal Award (Erin) & Gold Medal Award (Josephine).

 
• Operation SWIFT boat - Participated in numerous trips offshore east central Florida in a high-speed instrumented boat to take weather observations and compare them to radar measurements (1993).
   
• TCM-90 field experiment - Spent the summer of 1990 on Guam taking part in an international Tropical Cyclone Motion experiment and flying aboard a high level reconnaissance mission into Super-typhoon Flo (891 mb).

• Amateur (ham) radio operator KT4PD (originally WB1FPF).
• Extra Class - licensed since 1977.
• East Central Florida SKYWARN Club - Station Trustee (WX4MLB).

• American Meteorological Society member - since 1986.
• National Weather Association Member - since 1998.

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

• International Travel - 35 countries on 6 continents.
• Amateur Radio - KT4PD.

Updated 6/26/07

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