JOHN NIELSEN-GAMMON has been on the faculty at Texas A&M University since 1991.  He is currently a Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and also serves as the Texas State Climatologist and Director of the Texas Center for Climate Studies.  He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving a Ph.D. there in 1990.  He does research on various types of extreme weather from droughts to floods, as well as air pollution and computer modeling.  As Texas State Climatologist, he helps the State of Texas make the best possible use of weather and climate information, through applied research, outreach, and service on state-level committees.   He is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society.