RAL Advisory Panel

The RAL Advisory Panel consists of members of the academic and operational sectors who are nationally or internationally recognized as leaders in their respective fields of expertise. In general the Panel members cut across all aspects of the RAL programs. The Panel meets every 12-18 months to provide advice regarding the status and future directions of RAL programs. Current members of the RAL Advisory Panel are listed below.

2024 Panel Members

Fotini (Tina) Katopodes Chow - Professor, Fred and Claire Sauer Chancellor’s Chair in Environmental Engineering, University of CA Berkeley

Francina Dominguez - Associate Professor, University of Illinois

Suzanne Weaver Smith - Professor, Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Kentucky

Rex Alexander - President, Five-Alpha LLC

Mike Barlage - NOAA/EMC

Carol Ann Clayson - Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Shakila Merchant - Professor, City College of New York 

Volker Wulfmeyer - Professor,  University of Hohenheim, Germany 

Past Members

2022 Panel Members

Fotini (Tina) Katopodes Chow - Professor and Vice Chair for Graduate Studies, Civil Engineering, University of CA Berkeley

Francina Dominguez - Associate Professor, University of Illinois

Jim Hansen - Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Marine Meteorology Division

Bert Holtslag - Emeritus Professor and Chair of Meteorology, Wageningen University, the Netherlands

Kevin Petty  - Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Aeris LLC

Deborah Thomas - Professor & Chair, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Suzanne Weaver Smith - Professor & Director, UK Unmanned Systems Research Consortium, University of Kentucky

Rex Alexander - President, Five-Alpha LLC

2021

Fotini (Tina) Katopodes Chow - Professor and Vice Chair for Graduate Studies, Civil Engineering, University of CA Berkeley
Francina Dominguez - Associate Professor, University of Illinois
Jim Hansen - Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Marine Meteorology Division
Bert Holtslag - Emeritus Professor and Chair of Meteorology, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
Kevin Petty  - Chair, Vice President of Weather, Spire Global
Paul Pisano - Surface Transportation Consultant (Ret. Federal Highway Administration)
Allison Saltzer (deceased 10/22/21) - Business Development Director – IOT Microsoft
Deborah Thomas - Professor & Chair, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Suzanne Weaver Smith - Professor & Director, UK Unmanned Systems Research Consortium, University of Kentucky

2020 

Allison Saltzer - Microsoft, AI and IoT Partner Director
Bert Holtslag - Wageningen University, Netherlands
Deborah Thomas - Professor and Department Chair, Department of Geography and Earth Sciences UNC-Charlotte
Jim Hansen - Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Marine Meteorology Division
Tom Becher (chair) - MITRE Corporation, Technical Director
John Horel - Professor, Chair, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah
Lee G. Glascoe - National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Paul Pisano - Federal Highways Administration (ret.)

2019

Allison Saltzer Microsoft, AI and IoT Partner Director
Lisa Dilling Associate Professor, Environmental Studies and Western Water Assessment, University of Colorado
Florian Pappenberger Director of Forecasts, ECMWF
Bob Roth Director, Unmanned Traffic Management, Amazon Prime Air
Jim Hansen Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Marine Meteorology Division
Tom Becher MITRE Corporation, Technical Director
John Horel Professor, Chair, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah
Lee G. Glascoe National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Paul Pisano Federal Highways Administration (Ret.), Surface Transportation Consultant

2018

Mark Pendergrast - Director Product Marketing, Azure IoT, Microsoft
Lisa Dilling - Associate Professor, Environmental Studies and Western Water Assessment, University of Colorado
Florian Pappenbergerr - Director of Forecasts, European Center for Medium Range Forecasting (ECMWF)
Sean Cassidy - Director, Safety & Regulatory Affairs, Amazon Prime Air
James Doyle - Naval Research Lab, Marine Meteorology Division, Senior Scientist
Tom Becher - MITRE Corporation, Technical Director
John Horel - Professor, Chair, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah
Lee G. Glascoe - National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

2017

Sean Cassidy - Director, Safety & Regulatory Affairs, Amazon Prime Air
Pam Clark - US Army Research Lab
Lisa Dilling - Center for Science & Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado
James Doyle - Naval Research Lab
Florian Pappenbergerr - Director of Forecasts, European Center for Medium Range Forecasting (ECMWF)
Mark Pendergrast - Director Product Marketing, Azure IoT, Microsoft
Bob Rauber, chair - Univ of Illinois
Tom Becher - Mitre Corp

2016

Joe Burns - Sensurion Aerospace
Pam Clark - US Army Research Lab
Jim Doyle - Naval Research Lab
Maria Lemos - Univ of Michigan
Rod Mackenzie - Drive Time Metrics
Bob Rauber - Univ of Illinois
Jim Reagan - Mitre Corp
Scott Sandgathe - Univ of Washington
Rocky Stone - United Airlines

2015

Glen Anderson - Engility Corporation (International Resources Group), D.C.
Pam Clark - U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 
James Doyle - Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA
Maria Carmen Lemos - University of Michigan
Rod MacKenzie - Harman International, Washington, DC
Robert Rauber - University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
Jim Reagan - The MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA
Scott Sandgathe - University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Rocky Stone - United Airlines (alternate for Burns)

2013 - 2014

Dr. Glen Anderson – Engility Corporation, Washington, DC
Mr. Joe Burns – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO
Ms. Pam Clark – U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
Dr. James Doyle – Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA
Dr. Maria Carmen Lemos – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Mr. Rod MacKenzie – Harman International, Washington, DC
Dr. Robert Rauber – University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, IL
Dr. James Reagan – The MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA
Dr. Scott Sandgathe – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Mr. Rocky Stone, alternate – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO

2012

Dr. Glen Anderson – Engility Corporation, Washington, DC
Mr. Joe Burns – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO
Ms. Pam Clark – U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
Dr. James Doyle – Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA 
Dr. Sharon Harlan – Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 
Mr. Rod MacKenzie – Harman International, Washington, DC
Dr. Robert Rauber – University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
Dr. James Reagan – The MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA
Dr. Scott Sandgathe – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Ms. Sheila Steffenson – ESRI, Vienna, VA
Ms. Lisa Devon Streit – DOE, Washington DC
Mr. Bradley Udall – NOAA/ESRL & University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

2010 - 2011

Joe Burns – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO
Pam Clark – U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
James Doyle – Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA
Efi Foufoula-Georgiou – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Sharon Harlan – Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Rod MacKenzie – Harman International, Washington, DC
Ron McPherson – American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA
Robert Rauber – University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
Scott Sandgathe – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Agam Sinha – The Mitre Corporation, McLean, VA
Sheila Steffenson – ESRI, Vienna, VA
Bradley Udall – NOAA/ESRL, Boulder, CO

2008 - 2009

Mark Andrews – Joint Planning & Development Office (JPDO), Washington, DC
Joe Burns – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO
Pam Clark – U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
Efi Foufoula-Georgiou – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Jeanne Foust – ESRI, Eau Claire, WI
Robert T. Francis – Senior Policy Advisor, Washington, DC
Art Handman – The H Group, inc. ('09)/KMJ Consulting ('08), Gorham, ME
Paul Houser – George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Ron McPherson – American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA
Robert Rauber – University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
Scott Sandgathe – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Agam Sinha – The Mitre Corporation, McLean, VA

2007

Mark Andrews – Joint Planning & Development Office (JPDO), Washington, DC
Joe Burns – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO
Pam Clark – U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
Leland Ellis – Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC
Efi Foufoula-Georgiou – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Jeanne Foust – ESRI, Eau Claire, WI
Robert T. Francis – Senior Policy Advisor, Washington, DC
Art Handman – KMJ Consulting, Inc., Gorham, ME
Paul Houser – George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Richard Johnson – Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO
Carl McCullough – Aerospace Consultant, Trinity, FL
Ron McPherson – American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA
Robert Rauber – University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, IL
Scott Sandgathe – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Agam Sinha – The MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA

2006

Mark Andrews – Joint Planning & Development Office (JPDO), Washington, DC
Joe Burns – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO
Pam Clark – U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
Bruce Davis – Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC
Leland Ellis – Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC
Efi Foufoula-Georgiou – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Jeanne Foust – ESRI, Eau Claire, WI
Robert T. Francis – Senior Policy Advisor, Washington, DC
Paul Houser – George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Richard Johnson – Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO
Carl McCullough – Aerospace Consultant, Trinity, FL
Ron McPherson – American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA
Shelley Row – Institute of Transportation Engineers, Washington, DC

2005

Mark Andrews – Joint Planning & Development Office (JPDO), Washington, DC
Joe Burns – United Airlines Flight Center, Denver, CO
Mike Carter – U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Oak Hill, VA
Pam Clark – U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
Efi Foufoula-Georgiou – University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Jeanne Foust – ESRI, Eau Claire, WI
Paul Houser – George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Richard Johnson – Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO
Carl McCullough – Aerospace Consultant, Trinity, FL
Ron McPherson – American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA
Shelley Row – Institute of Transportation Engineers, Washington, DC
Don Veal – Consultant, Longmont, CO