Naval Postgraduate School

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Capt. Sean Wile, Capt. Stephanie Hedstrom, Capt. Nicholas Reitz, Capt. Paul Hayes, Capt. Daniel Muggleberg and Capt. Chandra Pasillas pose following their recent graduation from the Meteorology Operational Sciences curriculum of the Naval Postgraduate School. (Courtesy photo)

Battlefield Weather

Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan -- Ecker is a battlefield weather forecaster with the 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

Battlefield weather forecaster

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James Rosebrock, 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron, battlefield weather forecaster, monitors weather data on Oct. 9, 2012, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The 19th EWS provides Army ground commanders with accurate and real-time weather conditions and offers alternative options to help commanders make informed decisions on combat operations. Rosebrock's hometown is Hutchinson, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

Battlefield weather forecaster

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Gagne, 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron, battlefield weather forecaster, is responsible for maintenance of remote weather sensors inside and outside the wire Oct. 10, 2012, at Forward Operating Base Masum Ghar, Afghanistan. The 19th EWS provides Army ground commanders with accurate and real-time weather conditions and offers alternative options to help commanders make informed decisions on combat operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

SWO

Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Quimby, a battlefield forecaster attached to Task Force Wings, launches a tactical weather balloon to measure winds at flight levels, while holding an instrument to measure elevation during a Joint Operations Aviation Exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C., Aug.23. His wingmen measure wind direction and record the findings. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Lauren McQuone, Detachment 4, 18th Weather Squadron)

Artist's Rendering

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. – This is an artist's rendering of the brand new 1st Weather Squadron headquarters facility scheduled to open here in October 2013. The new 16,286 square foot facility will replace the unit’s current 1950’s era building that is only 3,500 square feet and has limited storage and parking and only one restroom. (Courtesy graphic)

1st WXG Change of Command

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Col. Louis Zuccarello, Air Force Weather Agency commander, hands the 1st Weather Group guidon to Col. William Carle, signifying the official change of command for the group during a ceremony at AFWA's Chief Master Sgt. Peter Morris Auditorium June 25. Carle, who comes to the 1st WXG from the Pentagon, assumed command from Col. Kay Smith, who now leaves for Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Air Force photo by Jeff Gates)

Special Weather Statement Graphic

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 26th Operational Weather Squadron released a Special Weather Statement Graphic on April 14 as a severe weather outbreak was preparing to hit four states. (Courtesy graphic)

Space Wx 1

Space Wx 1

Change of Command

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Maj. Gen. Brett T. Williams, the Air Force's director of operations and deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, hands the guidon to Col. Louis Zuccarello, designating him as the new Air Force Weather Agency commander, during a change of command ceremony here March 9. Zuccarello takes over after serving as vice commander since February 2011.

Antarctica Visit

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Joshua Linsell, meteorology major, holds the Cadet Squadron 25 guidon at the South Pole in -18 degree temps. Linsell visited Antarctica in December as part of a joint U.S. Antarctic Program and Air Force’s Nation Science Foundation trip. (Courtesy photo)

Antarctica Visit

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Joshua Linsell, meteorology major, stands in front of an LC-130 during one his flights in the Antarctic. Linsell visited in December as part of a joint U.S. Antarctic Program and Air Force’s Nation Science Foundation trip. (Courtesy photo)

Home Again

OMAHA, Neb. -- Tech. Sgt. Chuck Minor, 2d Systems Operations Squadron, hugs his daughter, Sarah, at a local restaurant on Nov. 29, after returning home early from a year-long deployment to Iraq. Minor is the Air Force Weather Agency’s information technology procurement manager. (Air Force photo by Ryan Hansen)

Temporary Power

A crane loads a 60,000 pound, 3.2 megawatt power plant and 5,000 KVA substation onto a flatbed truck for its return trip to the Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center in Port Hueneme, Calif. The equipment was delivered to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., by a Mobile Utilities Support Equipment team back in July to provide temporary support to the Air Force Weather Agency headquarters facility here. At that time the Missouri River was threatening to flood the base, so the temporary portable electrical power would have been used to decrease the load on the base's generator plant and ensure AFWA's electrical power would have continued. (Air Force photo by Charles Haymond)

Seabees at AFWA

Petty Officer Second Class Cole Einhaus, a utilitiesman with a Mobile Utilities Support Equipment team from Port Hueneme, Calif., watches on as other MUSE team members and power production technicians from the 55th Civil Engineer Squadron here prepare a secondary containment for a fuel tank on July 19 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The MUSE team was here from July 18-27 to install a 3.2 megawatt power plant in conjunction with a 5000 KVA substation. (Air Force photo by Jeff Gates)

Honoring Capt. Nylander

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Maj. Ken Burton, 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron director of operations, participates in a 10-kilometer road race here May 30 to honor the memory of Capt. Nathan Nylander, a fellow Air Force weather officer who was killed in an attack at the Kabul International Airport on April 27. Major Burton ran the race in-conjunction with the Bolder Boulder, a 10-kilometer road race held annually on Memorial Day in Boulder, Colo., in his combat gear. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kerry Leverett)

D-M honors fallen Airman

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - Desert Lightning Team members pay respects to a fallen team member here May 6. Capt. Nathan Nylander, a member of the 25th Operations Weather Squadron, died during a recent deployment to Afghanistan April 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jerilyn Quintanilla)

D-M honors fallen Airman

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - Members of the Davis-Monthan Honor Guard team transport the remains of Capt. Nathan Nylander, a member of the 25th Operational Weather Squadron, in preparation for a dignified transfer on the flight line here May 6. Capt. Nylander died April 27 during a shooting at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jerilyn Quintanilla)

Northern Lights viewing after geomagnetic storm

A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on March 1st, sparking a day-long geomagnetic storm and bright auroras around the Arctic Circle, according to www.spaceweather.com (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joshua Garcia)

Northern Lights viewing after geomagnetic storm

A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on March 1st, sparking a day-long geomagnetic storm and bright auroras around the Arctic Circle, according to www.spaceweather.com (U.S. Air Force photo/John Pennell)

Space Weather

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Chris Smith, a forecaster with the 2d Weather Squadron's space weather flight, monitors the near earth space environment at the squadron's space weather operations center located inside the Air Force Weather Agency here. The 2d WS is gearing up for the sun's next solar maximum.

Space Weather

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Staff Sgt. Matthew Money, left, and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lash, forecasters with the 2d Weather Squadron's space weather flight, monitor the near earth space environment at the squadron's space weather operations center located inside the Air Force Weather Agency here. The 2d WS squadron’s worldwide space weather team of roughly 50 active-duty members, civilians and contractors continually analyze, forecast and provide alert notifications for the entire Department of Defense as well as a whole host of other government agencies.

AFWA Auditorium

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Col. Robert Russell, Air Force Weather Agency commander, and Retired Chief Master Sgt. Peter Morris, unveil a plaque dedicating the AFWA auditorium to Chief Morris during a ceremony here Feb. 15. Chief Morris served 30 years in the Air Force and is widely recognized as one of their finest enlisted leaders and weather warriors. (Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates)

AFWA Auditorium

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Retired Chief Master Sgt. Peter Morris talks about his career in Air Force Weather during the dedication of the Air Force Weather Agency auditorium in his name here Feb. 15. Chief Morris served 30 years in the Air Force and is widely recognized as one of their finest enlisted leaders and weather warriors. (Air Force photo by Jeff W. Gates)