The National Weather Service in North Little Rock has appointed a new meteorologist-in-charge after the January retirement of Renee Fair.
Texas meteorologist-in-charge Steve Drillette began leading the Little Rock-area forecast office April 7, the weather service said Monday.
In the role, Drillette oversees the dissemination of timely and accurate weather warnings and forecasts; maintains relationships with emergency management agencies and media; and provides severe weather education to the public, the weather service said.
Drillette began his weather career as an intern at the National Weather Service forecast office in Amarillo, Texas, in 1993. He became the meteorologist-in-charge in the Brownsville, Texas, office in summer 2010. He holds a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Texas A&M University.
“A meteorologist-in-charge is the front line officer carrying out the National Weather Service’s highest calling of protecting lives while helping to mitigate the economic losses during hazardous events,” Michael Coyne, acting southern regional director of the U.S. National Weather Service, said in a statement.