Kelvin Droegemeier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kelvin Droegemeier
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Official portrait, 2019
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| 10th Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy | |
| In office January 11, 2019 – January 20, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Ted Wackler (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kei Koizumi (acting) |
| Acting Director of the National Science Foundation | |
| In office March 31, 2020 – June 22, 2020 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | France A. Córdova |
| Succeeded by | Sethuraman Panchanathan |
| Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology | |
| In office March 13, 2017 – January 11, 2019 |
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| Governor | Mary Fallin |
| Preceded by | Stephen McKeever |
| Succeeded by | Kayse Shrum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 23, 1958 Ellsworth, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | University of Oklahoma (BS) University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (MS, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Meteorology |
| Institutions | University of Oklahoma National Science Board University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| Thesis | The Numerical Simulation of Thunderstorm Outflow Dynamics (Gust Front, Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability, Wind Shear, Microbursts) (1985) |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert Wilhelmson |
Kelvin Kay Droegemeier (born September 23, 1958) is an American scientist who studies weather, called a meteorologist. He is well-known for his work on predicting very strong weather events. He used to be the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This office helps the President with science and technology advice.
Before that, he was the Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology. He also served as the Vice President for Research at the University of Oklahoma. Currently, he is a professor and special advisor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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Kelvin Droegemeier's Academic Journey
Kelvin Droegemeier was born in Ellsworth, Kansas, on September 23, 1958. He studied meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. He earned his first degree there in 1980.
He then continued his studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He earned his master's degree in 1982 and his Ph.D. in 1985. After finishing his studies, he became a professor at the University of Oklahoma in 1985.
Researching Extreme Weather
Dr. Droegemeier's main research has been about extreme weather events. These are things like severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. In the 1990s, he became famous for his work. He used computer simulations to predict how thunderstorms would develop. This work used new advancements in radar and computer technology.
He also helped start two important research centers. These were part of the National Science Foundation. In 1989, he co-founded the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms. Later, in 2003, he co-founded the Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere. These centers focus on understanding and predicting storms.
From 2009 to 2018, Dr. Droegemeier was the Vice President for Research at the University of Oklahoma. After his time in government, he returned to the University of Oklahoma. He is now a Regents Professor of Meteorology there.
Government and Science Policy Roles
Dr. Droegemeier has advised the U.S. government on science for many years. He was a member of the National Science Board for 12 years. This board gives advice on science and engineering to the President and Congress. He served on it during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. From 2012 to 2016, he was the Vice Chairman of the board.
In March 2017, he was appointed the Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology. In this role, he helped guide science and technology efforts for the state of Oklahoma.
Leading the Office of Science and Technology Policy
In August 2018, Dr. Droegemeier was chosen to be the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). This is a very important job. The OSTP advises the President on all things related to science and technology. Many scientists were happy about his nomination. They saw him as a strong supporter of government-funded research.
He was confirmed by the Senate on January 2, 2019. He officially started his role on January 11, 2019. Vice President Mike Pence held a special ceremony for him on February 11, 2019.
In March 2020, Dr. Droegemeier joined the White House Coronavirus Task Force. This group worked to address the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also named Acting Director of the National Science Foundation for a few months in 2020. This foundation supports scientific research and education.
When President Trump's term ended in January 2021, Dr. Droegemeier returned to his teaching and research roles at the University of Oklahoma.
