Richard E. Hallgren, former executive director (1988–1999) of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), has 50 years of experience as a scientist and administrator in environmental sciences and services. He was scientific advisor to the Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology in 1964, and then worked at the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA; 1966–1970). From there he went on to a number of senior positions at NOAA: assistant administrator, Oceanic and Atmospheric Services; director, National Weather Service; assistant administrator, Environmental Systems; associate administrator, Environmental Monitoring and Prediction; director, World Weather Systems; and federal coordinator, Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. His numerous national and international honors and awards include the Arthur S. Fleming Award, Department of Commerce Gold Medal, Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive, Charles F. Brooks Award, Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, and International Meteorological Organization Prize of the World Meteorological Organization. Dr. Hallgren has served on national and international committees including the UN Planning Committee for the International Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction and the NRC’s Committee on Earth Studies, Board on Global Change, and Panel to Review EOSDIS Plans. He serves on the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research board of trustees and is a fellow of the AMS fellow and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and member of the Oceanography Society and American Geophysical Union. He earned his PhD and BS in meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University.