Neil Jacobs

Jacobs was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees, in mathematics and physics, from the University of South Carolina in 1997, followed by a Master of Science and PhD in atmospheric science from North Carolina State University.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Neil Jacobs {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|url=https://www.noaa.gov/our-people/leadership/dr-neil-jacobs#:~:text=by%20email%20Print-,Dr.,Dr.|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.noaa.gov}}[https://docs.house.gov/meetings/SY/SY18/20160608/105029/HHRG-114-SY18-Bio-JacobsN-20160608.pdf Bio for Dr. Neil Jacobs – Panasonic Avionics Corporation]

After completing his doctoral degree in 2005, Jacobs went to work with North Carolina–based AirDat LLC to work on the development of their TAMDAR (Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting) weather monitoring system as their director of research and business development. He stayed on with the company when the company was acquired by Panasonic Avionics Corporation in 2013.{{cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panasonic-avionics-corporation-announces-acquisition-of-airdats-real-time-weather-data-and-superior-forecasting-technology-202083051.html |title=Panasonic Avionics Corporation Announces Acquisition of AirDat's Real-Time Weather Data and Superior Forecasting Technology |date=April 9, 2013 |work=PR Newswire}} At Panasonic, he served as chief atmospheric scientist from 2013 until he was asked by President Trump to join the government in 2018.

During his time at AiRDat and Panasonic, Jacobs also worked on a small team of atmospheric scientists at World Meteorological Organization and served as chair of the American Meteorological Society's Forecast Improvement Group.{{cite web |url=https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/FE33BF19-6251-4392-AD75-F05F32A3242F |title=Senate Commerce Committee Nominee Questionnaire, 116th Congress |work=United States Senate |date=January 6, 2020 |first=Neil Andrews |last=Jacobs Jr.}}

In 2017, Jacobs was nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and was confirmed on February 15, 2018.{{Cite web|date=2020-03-13|title=Introducing the New NOAA Administrator Nominee: Dr. Neil Jacobs|url=https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2020/03/13/introducing-new-noaa-administrator-nominee-dr-neil-jacobs/|access-date=2020-09-14|website=Ocean Conservancy|language=en}} When Timothy Gallaudet, the acting NOAA Administrator asked to be allowed to focus on his Senate-confirmed position as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in February 2018, Jacobs became the Acting NOAA Administrator and late the next year he was nominated to take on the role permanently when Barry Myers withdrew from consideration for health reasons.{{cite news |last1=Samenow |first1=Jason |last2=Freedman |first2=Andrew |title=Neil Jacobs, meteorologist and acting head of NOAA during a turbulent time, nominated to lead the agency |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/12/18/neil-jacobs-meteorologist-acting-head-noaa-during-turbulent-time-nominated-lead-agency/ |access-date=2 December 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=18 December 2019}} After not being confirmed in 2019, he was re-nominated in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Tollefson |first1=Jeff |title=US climate and oceans agency hit by leadership shake-up |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00702-z |access-date=2 December 2020 |date=26 February 2019}}{{cite web |title=Senate Commerce HRG on Nomination of Neil Jacobs to Head NOAA, Mar 11, 2020, DC, approx 10:00 am ET (webcast) |url=https://spacepolicyonline.com/events/senate-commerce-hrg-on-nomination-of-neil-jacobs-to-head-noaa-mar-11-2020-dc-1000-am-et/#:~:text=Jacobs%20was%20confirmed%20by%20the,permanently%20after%20Barry%20Myers%20withdrew. |access-date=2 December 2020}} A hearing on his nomination was held in March 2020 and his nomination was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in May of that year.{{cite news |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=Senate committee approves NOAA administrator nomination |url=https://spacenews.com/senate-committee-approves-noaa-administrator-nomination/ |access-date=2 December 2020 |work=Space news |date=21 May 2020}} On January 3, 2021, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-03 |title=PN1331 - Nomination of Neil Jacobs for Department of Commerce, 116th Congress (2019-2020) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/1331 |access-date=2021-01-13 |website=www.congress.gov}}

{{Main|Hurricane Dorian–Alabama controversy}}

In September 2019, President Donald Trump claimed that Hurricane Dorian would make landfall over Alabama. After receiving several inquiries from residents, NOAA released a statement that Dorian would not reach Alabama. In an Oval Office briefing with reporters, Trump displayed a map including the altered projection that Dorian would make landfall in Alabama. On September 6, NOAA released a statement in support of Trump's claim, including Alabama in the list of states that Dorian was expected to reach.{{Cite web|title=White House Pressured NOAA Response to 'Sharpiegate,' IG Says|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/white-house-pressured-noaa-response-to-sharpiegate-ig-says|access-date=2020-09-14|website=news.bloomberglaw.com|language=en}}{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=2019-09-10|title=Top weather official who defended 'Sharpiegate' makes tearful clarification|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/10/noaa-trump-alabama-sharpiegate-statement-clarify|access-date=2020-09-14|issn=0261-3077}} Eventually, the path of Hurricane Dorian did not actually affect Alabama at all. In June 2020, an internal investigation found that Jacobs had violated NOAA's code of ethics by issuing a statement in support of Trump's claim.{{Cite news|last=Flavelle|first=Christopher|date=2020-06-15|title=NOAA Chief Violated Ethics Code in Furor Over Trump Tweet, Agency Says|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/climate/noaa-sharpiegate-ethics-violation.html|access-date=2020-09-14|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|last1=Freedman|first1=Andrew|last2=Samenow|first2=Jason|title=NOAA leaders violated agency's scientific integrity policy, Hurricane Dorian 'Sharpiegate' investigation finds|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/06/15/noaa-investigation-sharpiegate/|access-date=2020-09-14|issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web|last=Beitsch|first=Rebecca|date=2020-06-15|title=Report finds NOAA 'sharpiegate' statement 'not based on science' but political influence|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/502814-noaa-sharpiegate-statement-not-based-on-science-but-political|access-date=2020-09-14|website=TheHill|language=en}}

On February 4, 2025, newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump nominated Jacobs to the position of NOAA Administrator.

Jacobs lives in Durham, North Carolina, with his wife and two children.{{Cite web|last1=Hotakainen|first1=Rob|date=2019-12-18|title=Trump nominates acting NOAA leader to be permanent chief|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-nominates-acting-noaa-leader-be-permanent-chief|access-date=2020-09-14|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|language=en}} Jacobs is an avid surfer in the Outer Banks region.{{Cite web|date=2018-03-09|title=POTUS Appoints Outer Banks Surfer to Head NOAA|url=https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/trump-administration-appoints-obx-surfer-leading-noaa-position/20566|access-date=2020-09-14|website=Surfline}}

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Category:American atmospheric scientists

Category:University of South Carolina alumni

Category:North Carolina State University alumni

Category:First Trump administration personnel

Category:United States Under Secretaries of Commerce

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people