Name: Robert S. Berkovitz

Brief bio:
Born in St. Paul Minnesota in 1942. Attended the University of Minnesota from 1960 to 1963. Since the U of M did not have a meteorology program, I was going to work a couple years and go to another school out of state. Meanwhile, I got drafted into the Army in 1964. I ended up stationed at the Yuma Proving Grounds near Yuma, Arizona, working on the Met team. After leaving the Army in 1966, I went to the University of Washington in Seattle and earned a degree in Atmospheric Sciences, graduating in 1969. Started my career in Seattle in the summer of 1969, transferred to Yuma in 1973 as the agricultural forecaster, and then went to Phoenix in 1977 as the fire weather forecaster, where I have been ever since. Needless to say, I do enjoy being in fireweather.

Q: Where in NOAA do you work now?
A: National Weather Service in Phoenix, Arizona.

Q: When did you begin your work with NOAA?
A: Started with NWS in Seattle, WA in 1969.

Q: Looking back, what events stand out as the most memorable during your time with NOAA?
A: Since I have been in the fire weather program since 1977, my most memorable experiences are related to forest fires, including the Yellowstone fires in the late 80's and just recently, the wildfire at Los Alamos. Also, tropical storm Kathleen in 1976, when it affected Yuma with damaging winds, when I worked there. Another memorable event that stands out is the flooding that took place in Phoenix in the late 70's and early 80's.

Q: From your point of view, what have been the most significant changes NOAA has experienced during the past 30 years?
A:  The most significant changes NOAA has experienced, as far as the NWS is concerned is the change in technology. I have been out to numerous wildfires in my many years in fire weather, and the change in technology for the better has been significant. This is especially true in obtaining weather information out in the field.

This page updated on: Monday, 07-Jan-2002 21:41:55 GMT
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