Meet the Gang

TEAM LEADERS

Jason Samenow - Chief Meteorologist

A native Washingtonian, Jason Samenow has been a weather enthusiast since age 10 (1987) -- the year of the "double whammy" snow storms that shut schools down seven straight days in the D.C. area. Before graduating from high school, he interned for NBC4 chief meteorologist Bob Ryan. At the University of Virginia, he earned a degree in environmental science, focusing in atmospheric science. He went on to earn a master's degree in atmospheric science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000. Since then, he's worked as a climate change analyst for the federal government, monitoring, analyzing and communicating the science of climate change. He founded CapitalWeather.com in early 2004, the first professional weather blog on the Internet. Jason is a past chairman of the D.C. Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and a Weather and Society Integrated Studies Fellow. Jason lives with his wife, Deborah, in Washington, D.C.

Dan Stillman - Lead Meteorologist

Weather and Washington are two of Dan Stillman's greatest passions. The excitement of snow days and two-hour delays are what first got him hooked on tracking lows and highs across the country. After graduating from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Md., he went on to earn a B.S. in atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences from the University of Michigan (and like most Michigan grads is still obsessed with everything Wolverines), and a master's degree in meteorology from Texas A&M University. He also has a background in journalism and enjoys combining his love for weather with his writing skills. He currently works as a science communications manager for the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, a nonprofit Earth science education and policy organization in Arlington, Va. Also a freelance writer, he has been published in the Washington Post, Weatherwise Magazine and elsewhere, and served as editor for NBC4 chief meteorologist Bob Ryan's 2005 Almanac and Guide for the Weatherwise. He is also a Weather and Society Integrated Studies Fellow. Dan lives with his wife, Debbie, and son, Matthew, in North Bethesda, Md.

Jamie Jones - Technology Lead

A 2005 graduate of the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jamie Jones has been working with Jason on the site since its inception in 2004. As a computer engineering major, Jamie's concentration was in emerging Internet and Web development technologies, both of which he uses to create new and interesting content for the site. Jamie is currently a Web applications engineer who does Defense Department consulting throughout the D.C. area. As a consultant, he focuses on assisting agencies to better leverage Web-enabled technologies and helps to manage their ever-growing collection of data. Jamie has lived on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Williamsburg, Charlottesville, and currently resides in Alexandria, Va.

TEAM

Kevin Ambrose - Senior Photographer

Kevin Ambrose is the author of "Washington Weather," "Blizzards and Snowstorms of Washington, D.C." and "Great Blizzards of New York City." Ambrose is also a professional photographer and avid storm chaser, specializing in photography of Washington, D.C. area snowstorms, cherry blossoms, sunrises, sunsets, storms and lightning. He holds a B.S. in computer science from the University of Virginia and currently works as an account executive for Sun Microsystems. Kevin's interests include weather forecasting, history, archeology and running. Kevin, his wife Elisa and their two children live in Northern Virginia. His photography and books can be found at his Web site, WashingtonPrints.com.

Andrew Freedman - Columnist

Andrew Freedman is an environmental journalist with a lifelong fascination with the weather. His work has appeared on The Weather Channel's "Forecast Earth" Web site, in Congressional Quarterly, Greenwire and Environment & Energy Daily, as well as Weatherwise magazine. He has also worked for NOAA's National Weather Service and on the summit of Mount Washington as a weather observing intern. A former D.C. resident, Andrew currently resides in Boston. He holds a Masters Degree in Climate and Society from Columbia University, and is completing a Masters in International Affairs from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Brian Jackson - Meteorologist

Brian grew up in upstate NY and became fascinated with weather at a young age due to the region's lake snows and seasonal changes. He decided to make meteorology a career and majored in meteorology during college, receiving his B.S. degree in the spring of 2004 from the State University of New York at Oneonta located in central NY. While at Oneonta, he worked at an internship at WORK-13 TV in Rochester, NY putting together forecasts for broadcast. Brian then decided to pursue his education further and enrolled in graduate school at Florida State University and received his M.S. degree in meteorology in August of 2007. He now works at the National Ice Center in Suitland, MD as a snow and sea ice analyst.

Don Lipman - Weather Journalist

As is the case with Matt Ross, Don passed on a formal education in meteorology but nevertheless has had an abiding interest in the weather since the age of about 12. Growing up at the Jersey shore during the active hurricane years of the 1950s, he believes that this may have had an impact on his lifelong fascination with the elements. Upon receiving his bachelor's degree from New Jersey's Monmouth University and later, a graduate degree from George Washington University, he began a career with the Intelligence Community, where he served for more than 33 years. Late in his career, he began writing weather columns in community newspapers and, upon retirement, began to do non-technical weather presentations at senior centers, community centers, retirement communities. and eventually, the cruise lines (Celebrity, Princess, and NCL) His power-point talks focus primarily on weather folklore, weather history and, of course, weather humor.

Ian Livingston - Photographer/Forecaster

Ian Livingston (on Twitter) has lived in Washington since early 2006, having moved to the area shortly after graduating from the University of Connecticut. While residing in Connecticut, Ian was trained as a SKYWARN spotter, and his self-education in meteorology has been ongoing since he first witnessed snow at his childhood home in the southern California desert. During college, he designed and forecasted for a Web site focused on upcoming weather conditions on and around campus in Storrs, Conn. Ian is one of several co-founders of EasternUSWx.com, a site known as one of the nation's top forums for weather discussion and information. Over the years, photography became a natural offshoot of his love for weather, and he has acquired a greater knowledge of both -- and how they intersect -- while out in the field. Ian was drawn to the region by his interest in foreign affairs, current events and politics. He presently works for one of the nation's most highly regarded think tanks.

Ann Posegate - Weather/Environment writer

Ann has been interested in weather and the environment for as long as she can remember. The New England and Arizona skies showed her some fantastic and frightening weather while growing up, including a flash flood in Grand Canyon, a lightning bolt striking about 30 feet away during a monsoon, 100 mph winds, and numerous blizzards, thunderstorms, and eggs frying on sidewalks (though the metal roof of a car works much better). Ann holds a BS in Environmental Science and gained much of her knowledge of weather by experiencing and teaching about the "worst weather in the world" as an educator for the Mount Washington Observatory and an assistant for the radio show The Weather Notebook. She has several years of experience in informal science education, including three years in DC as an environmental educator focusing on watersheds. Now an education and outreach professional at a national environmental non-profit here in the District, Ann works to communicate the impact of weather, climate, and the environment on humans and the natural world. She also co-coordinates a local environmental education coalition. Ann's personal interests include creativity, meditation, exploring the world's ecosystems and cultures, and watching the sky.

Greg Postel - Tropical Weather Expert

Dr. Gregory Postel is the lead meteorologist for a weather-risk management firm in Overland Park, KS. He earned his Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and conducted research on factors leading to the development of tropical cyclones. He's an avid hurricane chaser and has been known to drive more than a thousand miles to intercept land-falling hurricanes.

Matt Rogers - Meteorologist

Matt Rogers is a meteorologist and Washington D.C. (Columbia Heights) resident. He is President and co-founder of the Commodity Weather Group, LLC, in Bethesda, MD. Matt was previously the Director of Weather for MDA EarthSat Weather in Rockville, MD. For the past fifteen years, Matt has been helping companies manage their weather-related risk, particularly in the energy and financial sectors. He is a frequent speaker at client sites and at conferences where the primary goals are meteorological education along with prognostication of future risk. Matt earned a B.S. degree in meteorology from Penn State University in 1994. He also earned an MBA from George Mason University in 2001. Like most meteorologists, his passion for weather started extremely early in life and has never let go.

Steve Tracton - Meteorologist

Steve recently retired from U.S. Government employment after 34 years of service. His career began immediately after receiving a Ph.D. in Meteorology from MIT as an Assistant Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School (1972-1975). Thereafter, Steve was a research scientist for 31 years at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). A basic theme of his career at NCEP was assessment of data, analysis, and forecast systems with emphasis on physical insight, applications to forecast problems, and realistic appreciation of capabilities and limitations. Perhaps most notably Steve has been recognized nationally and internationally as a principal agent and advocate in development, application, and use of operational ensemble prediction systems and strategies for dealing with forecast uncertainty. From 2002-2006, Steve was a Program Officer for Marine Meteorology at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). He's currently the chairman of the D.C. Chapter of the American Meteorological Society.

A. Camden Walker - Meteorologist

Even as a youngster, A. Camden Walker found looking upward to be an enthralling experience. He strived to learn all of the cloud types, and eventually earned the Boy Scouts weather merit badge. He also dabbled in nature photography and perused weather almanacs. These days he is drawn toward the sociological side of weather, including how weather affects psychology (psychometeorology). Additional interests include climate change, architecture and sustainability. And of course, he counts himself among the snowlovers. But he's equally fascinated by tropical cyclogenesis, the development and strengthening of tropical cyclones. Camden has a bachelor's in atmospheric science from the University of Virginia, and is currently an executive assistant at the American Institute of Architects. Camden previously spent time in Atlanta interning and going through on-air training at The Weather Channel. He has now lived in Northwest D.C. for several years since happily returning to his favorite city. Everything about DC and its locals resonate with him. (He grew up in the area so it feels like home.) And Camden appreciates the city's perfect positioning on the North American continent, which gives it an exciting mix of mid-latitude weather.

OCCASIONAL CONTRIBUTORS

Robert Henson - Meteorologist

A native of Oklahoma City, Bob Henson became entranced by wild weather at an early age. In fifth grade he was posting predictions on the walls of his elementary school under the pseudonym "The Far-Out Forecaster" (no extended outlooks, though). After earning his bachelor's degree at Rice University, Bob completed graduate work in meteorology and took part in storm-chasing research at the University of Oklahoma en route to a master's degree in journalism. Since 1989 he's been a writer and editor at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which operates the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Bob is a contributing editor of Weatherwise magazine and the author of "Television Weathercasting: A History," "The Rough Guide to Weather," and "The Rough Guide to Climate Change," a finalist for the UK's 2007 Royal Society Prize for Science Books.

Matt Ross - Forecaster

Matt Ross has been interested in weather since early childhood, including a specific fascination with snowstorms and extreme weather events. Although he passed on a career as a meteorologist, his enthusiasm for both weather and statistics, particularly related to the D.C. area's local climate, continues to strengthen as he gets older. Frustrated with the region's lack of snow, Matt has been known to chase after the white stuff, including recent trips to northern New England and the Tug Hill region of New York during major snow events. Of particular interest to Matt is the study of analogs, or past weather data as a means of predicting long-range seasonal patterns. Matt owns a legal staffing agency and resides in Mt. Pleasant.

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By Mackenzie Morgan |  January 7, 2008; 4:30 PM ET Capital Weather Gang
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