Richard B. (Ricky) Rood

Professor Emeritus
Home/People/Faculty Emeritus/Richard B. (Ricky) Rood

email

[email protected]

Location

Remote

Phone

301 526 8572

Primary Website

OpenClimate: Accelerating the use of climate knowledge

Additional Title(s)

Courtesy appointment in the School of Environment and Sustainability

Primary Websites

Links to resources

Education

  • Ph.D., Meteorology, Florida State University
  • M.S., Meteorology, Florida State University
  • B.S., Physics, University of North Carolina

Teaching

Climate Change Classes

Professional Service

  • Fellow, American Meteorological Society
  • Member, American Geophysical Union

Research Interests

I am a Professor Emeritus of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering (CLaSP) and in the School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan. I have been a consultant to the National Weather Service and to the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts. From 2018 to 2022, I was the co-chair of the steering committee of NOAA’s Unified Forecast System. I was also a member of the NASA Earth Science Subcommittee.

I teach cross-discipline courses on climate change, which address critical analysis and complex problem solving. My present research focuses on improving the usability of climate projections in adaptation and preparedness planning.

As a member of the Senior Executive Service at NASA, I received recognition for my ability to lead both scientific and high-performance computing organizations. I have been part of many strategic efforts to improve organizational and functional effectiveness of U.S. climate modeling efforts. I am co-author of two reports on modeling strategy published by the National Academy of Sciences and lead author in 2000 of a document on modeling and computing strategy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. That document remains largely relevant today.

Specialties: Throughout my entire career, I have worked at the intersection of fields to solve complex problems. Plenty of researchers look at problems in a focused, reduced method of investigation. Yet there is a critical need to synthesize information. When I left NASA in 2005, I changed my research subject areas and style to focus on the synthesis of information from many fields to develop viable strategies for climate-change problem solving. My current professional positions reflect this transition, and my recent publications represent accomplishments.

I find it very difficult to say, “Go Blue.

Awards

  • World Meteorological Organization, Norbert Gerbier-Mumm International Award
  • NASA Group Achievement Awards (SOLVE, Forecasting Group, SPADE, AASE)
  • NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
  • NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal

Publications

Blogs

Papers and Reports

  • Author’s Personal Library: Most of my non-gray papers and reports are at this link.
    The format is year_FirstAuthor_ShortTitle_Journal_year. Use search in page. It might work.

Writing and Lecture Portfolio: Fiction, Essays, Lectures