Boilermakers Leading the Way

Source: The Weather Channel

Earlier this week, Dr. Rick Knabb of the Weather Channel was named the new director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center. For those who don't know, Dr. Knabb began his career in meteorology right here at Purdue University, where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Atmospheric Science. Afterwards, he went on to receive his Masters and Ph.D. from Florida State University.

During his undergraduate career at Purdue, he performed research with Dr. Phillip Smith, and his honors thesis focused on the relationship of isobarically-calculated potential vorticity (PV) and absolute vorticity (AV) to an explosively-deepening extratropical cyclone. His thesis was awarded first place in the American Meteorological Society's MacElwane Award competition, and presented it with Dr. Smith at the First International Winter Storm Symposium (Source: EAS Undergraduate Research).

Join us in congratulating our fellow Boilermaker in his new achievement! His career and leadership shows what it means to be a Boilermaker, and he serves as a great example for all us pursuing our Atmospheric Science degree.