About the Director
![[Photo of A. E. MacDonald]](img/AEMacDonald.jpg)
Dr. Alexander E. (Sandy) MacDonald directs NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory and also serves as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes, positions he has held since they were both created in 2006. Dr. MacDonald, a meteorologist, previously led NOAA’s Forecast Systems Laboratory, which is now ESRL’s Global Systems Division. He is widely published in the fields of atmospheric modeling, statistics, dynamics, and meteorological systems. Dr. MacDonald has received numerous awards, including three Presidential Rank Awards and a Gold Medal. He also holds the patent for Science on a Sphere,® a luminous, animated globe installed in museums around the world to educate the public about Earth and other planets. Dr. MacDonald earned a Ph.D. and M.S. in Meteorology from the University of Utah, and is a former Air Force officer.
Contact the Director
- Office of the Director
NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80305-3328
Alexander.E.MacDonald@noaa.gov
Phone: 303-497-6378
FAX: 303-497-6951
More Information
| EDUCATION | |
|---|---|
| Ph.D. in Meteorology (Minor in Computer Science), University of Utah, 1975 | |
| M.S. in Meteorology, University of Utah, 1973 | |
| B.S. in Mathematics/Physics, Montana State University, 1967 | |
| USAF Weather Course Certificate in Meteorology, St. Louis University, 1968 | |
| PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE | |
| 2006 - Present | Deputy Assistant Administrator, Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes, OAR Director, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA |
| 1988 - 2006 | Director, Forecast Systems Laboratory, NOAA |
| 1983 - 1988 | Director of the Program for Regional Observing and Forecasting Services (PROFS), Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL), NOAA |
| 1980 - 1982 | Chief of PROFS, Exploratory Development Group, ERL, NOAA |
| 1975 - 1980 | Techniques Improvement Meteorologist in the Scientific Services Division, Western Region National Weather Service, NOAA in Salt Lake City |
| 1973 - 1975 | University of Utah - Research Fellowship |
| 1971 - 1973 | University of Utah - Instructor, Synoptic Meteorology Laboratory |
| 1967 - 1971 | Officer, U.S. Air Force |
| MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES | |
| American Meteorological Society | |
| National Weather Association | |
| RESEARCH INTERESTS | |
| Dr. MacDonald has published in atmospheric modeling, statistics, dynamics, and meteorological systems. His interests are applications of science and technology to improve operational forecasting. | |
| ACTIVITIES | |
| 2005 | Patent #6,937,210, "Projecting Images on a Sphere", Alexander E. MacDonald |
| 2002 | Patent #6,421,010, "Atmospheric Sondes and Method for Tracking", Russell B. Chadwick and Alexander E. MacDonald |
| 1994 | Executive Committee Member, AMS; AMS Fellow |
| 1993 | Developed GLOBE Program (a Vice-Presidential Initiative) |
| 1992 | Councilor, AMS three-year appointment |
| 1983 - Present | Lecturer at numerous AMS chapters throughout the United States. |
| 1987 - Present | Member, AMS Committee on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology |
| 1984 - Present | Member, Panel on Mesoscale Research, NRC |
| 1988 - Present | Fellow with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere - Colorado State University |
| 1983 - 1988 | Set up workstations to allow demonstrations of PROFS' unique capabilities to a large number of federal agencies, e.g., FAA, NWS, NESS, NESDIS, AF, AWS, DOD, and numerous universities. |
| AWARDS | |
| 2007 | Presidential Rank Award - Meritorious |
| 2001 | Presidential Rank Award - Meritorious |
| 1997 | Presidential Rank Award - Distinguished |
| 1993 | Gold Medal - Leadership in Technology Transfer |
| 1980 | Bronze Medal - Accomplishments in NWS AFOS Program |