Neil Jacobs
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
Acting
In office
February 25, 2019 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byTimothy Gallaudet
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction
In office
February 15, 2018 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byStephen Volz
Personal details
Born (1973-12-12) December 12, 1973 (age 50)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Children2
EducationUniversity of South Carolina (BS, BS)
North Carolina State University (MS, PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsAtmospheric science
Institutions
ThesisThe role of marine thermal gradient structure on Gulf Stream-related extratropical cyclogenesis (2005)
Doctoral advisors
  • Sethu Raman
  • Gary Lackmann
Other academic advisorsLeonard J. Pietrafesa

Neil Andrew Jacobs, Jr. (born December 12, 1973)[1] is an American scientist and former government official who served as the acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.[2]

Early life and education

Jacobs was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[1] He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees, in mathematics and physics, from the University of South Carolina in 1997, followed by a Master of Science and PhD in atmospheric science from North Carolina State University.[3][4]

Career

Industry

After completing his doctoral degree in 2005, Jacobs went to work with North Carolina-based AirDat LLC to work on the development of their TAMDAR (Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting) weather monitoring system as their director of research and business development. He stayed on with the company when the company was acquired by Panasonic Avionics Corporation in 2013.[5] At Panasonic, he served as chief atmospheric scientist from 2013 until he was asked by President Trump to join the government in 2018.[6]

During his time at AiRDat and Panasonic, Jacobs also worked on a small team of atmospheric scientists at World Meteorological Organization and served as chair of the American Meteorological Society's Forecast Improvement Group.[6]

Government

In 2017, Jacobs was nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and was confirmed on February 15, 2018.[7] When Timothy Gallaudet, the acting NOAA Administrator asked to be allowed to focus on his Senate-confirmed position as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in February 2018, Jacobs became the Acting NOAA Administrator and late the next year he was nominated to take on the role permanently when Barry Myers withdrew from consideration for health reason.[8] After not being confirmed in 2019, he was re-nominated in 2020.[9][10] A hearing on his nomination was held in March 2020 and his nomination was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in May of that year.[11] On January 3, 2021, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.[12]

Role in Sharpiegate

Main article: Hurricane Dorian–Alabama controversy

In September 2019, President Donald Trump claimed that Hurricane Dorian would make landfall over Alabama. After receiving several inquiries from residents, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a statement that Dorian would not reach Alabama. In an Oval Office briefing with reporters, Trump displayed a map including the altered projection that Dorian would make landfall in Alabama. On September 6, the NOAA released a statement in support of Trump's claim, including Alabama in the list of states that Dorian was expected to reach.[13][14] In June 2020, an internal investigation found that Jacobs had violated the NOAA's code of ethics by issuing a statement in support of Trump's claim, in addition to criticizing employees at the National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama for correcting Trump.[15][16][17]

Personal life

Jacobs lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife and two children.[18] Jacobs is an avid surfer in the Outer Banks region.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Senate Confirmation Form". Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ Samenow, Jason; Freedman, Andrew. "Neil Jacobs, meteorologist and acting head of NOAA during a turbulent time, nominated to lead the agency". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  3. ^ "Dr. Neil Jacobs | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  4. ^ Bio for Dr. Neil Jacobs – Panasonic Avionics Corporation
  5. ^ "Panasonic Avionics Corporation Announces Acquisition of AirDat's Real-Time Weather Data and Superior Forecasting Technology". PR Newswire (Press release). April 9, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Jacobs Jr., Neil Andrews (January 6, 2020). "Senate Commerce Committee Nominee Questionnaire, 116th Congress". United States Senate.
  7. ^ "Introducing the New NOAA Administrator Nominee: Dr. Neil Jacobs". Ocean Conservancy. 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  8. ^ Samenow, Jason; Freedman, Andrew (18 December 2019). "Neil Jacobs, meteorologist and acting head of NOAA during a turbulent time, nominated to lead the agency". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  9. ^ Tollefson, Jeff (26 February 2019). "US climate and oceans agency hit by leadership shake-up". Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Senate Commerce HRG on Nomination of Neil Jacobs to Head NOAA, Mar 11, 2020, DC, approx 10:00 am ET (webcast)". Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  11. ^ Foust, Jeff (21 May 2020). "Senate committee approves NOAA administrator nomination". Space news. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  12. ^ "PN1331 - Nomination of Neil Jacobs for Department of Commerce, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  13. ^ "White House Pressured NOAA Response to 'Sharpiegate,' IG Says". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  14. ^ "Top weather official who defended 'Sharpiegate' makes tearful clarification". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2019-09-10. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  15. ^ Flavelle, Christopher (2020-06-15). "NOAA Chief Violated Ethics Code in Furor Over Trump Tweet, Agency Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  16. ^ Freedman, Andrew; Samenow, Jason. "NOAA leaders violated agency's scientific integrity policy, Hurricane Dorian 'Sharpiegate' investigation finds". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  17. ^ Beitsch, Rebecca (2020-06-15). "Report finds NOAA 'sharpiegate' statement 'not based on science' but political influence". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  18. ^ Hotakainen, Rob (2019-12-18). "Trump nominates acting NOAA leader to be permanent chief". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  19. ^ "POTUS Appoints Outer Banks Surfer to Head NOAA". Surfline. 2018-03-09. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
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