The National Hurricane Center’s Jamie Rhome has been awarded the prestigious Service to America medal for his pioneering work in forecasting and warning the public about the deadly and destructive inundation of water associated with a hurricane’s storm surge. Presented by the Partnership for Public Service, the Service to America medal “highlights excellence in our federal workforce and inspires other talented and dedicated individuals to go into public service” and honors recipients for “breaking down barriers, overcoming huge challenges and getting results.”
“I’m honored by this recognition and to be among many great public servants whose work benefits the American public every day,” said Rhome. “I am committed to protecting coastal residents from the deadly power of storm surge and I am fortunate to be in a position to make a difference.”
“Jamie’s scientific expertise and visionary leadership underpins the effective storm surge forecasts and warnings for our nation’s coastline,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. “His work is literally life-saving.”
Rhome oversees the National Hurricane Center’s Storm Surge Unit, which produces official storm surge forecasts during tropical cyclone threats to the United States, supports the Nation’s hurricane warning program, and facilitates post-storm response and recovery efforts. Over the years, Rhome has participated in numerous interviews with Weatherboy at the National Hurricane Center and in the field. The most recent interview was earlier this hurricane season. In 2017, right before the latest storm surge products were released to the public, Rhome participated in a special video from the National Tropical Weather Conference in South Padre Island, Texas.
Rhome received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in meteorology from North Carolina State University. He joined the National Hurricane Center in 1999 as a marine forecaster in the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch and became a hurricane specialist in 2006 before becoming the lead of the storm surge program in 2008.
