The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory has named Dr. Pam Heinselman as its new Deputy Director for Science. She will start her new role on Jan 12, 2025.
Dr. Heinselman, who currently serves as the NSSL Applications and User Engagement Branch Director, brings experience grounded in conducting observational, application, and user engagement research, as well as experience serving in several leadership roles.
She has made meaningful contributions to NOAA by leading interdisciplinary research that integrates physical and social science into the development of both new weather radar technologies and applications, and probabilistic forecast systems, since the early 2000s. This user-centered approach has helped to ensure that revolutionary technologies, like the Warn-on-Forecast System (WoFS), lead to forecast improvements that enhance the protection of lives and property, and support the national economy.
“I am excited to work with Pam in her new role as Deputy Director for Science,” said Dr. DaNa Carlis, NSSL Director. “ I believe she has demonstrated herself to be a visionary leader and scientist that will help lead NSSL’s scientific portfolio into an even brighter future as we work with our partners in the broader weather community and at the National Weather Service to transition several key R&D efforts to operations, such as the transformative Warn on Forecast System and the integration of the Phased Array Radar program with Radar Next. “
In her new role, Dr. Heinselman will build on this strong foundation by working across NSSL and with external partners to foster scientific innovation, build high-impact programs, and develop the policies, strategies and expanded partnerships needed to support both NSSL’s mission and our number one asset, its people.
Dr. Heinselman earned her B.S. and M.S. in Earth and Atmospheric Science from Saint Louis University and her Ph.D. in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Since then her scientific leadership has been recognized with several awards, including the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Fellowship to be awarded at the 2025 AMS Annual meeting in New Orleans.
