Rick Saylor, Ph.D.

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Title: Physical Scientist

Contact: rick.saylor@noaa.gov

Current Research:

My research focuses on interactions between the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface, including exchanges of energy, momentum, water vapor and trace gases and particles.  These interactions affect weather, climate and air quality and my research is aimed at improving the scientific understanding of these processes and how to better represent their effects in NOAA’s forecast models.

Professional Experience:

• 2009 – present: Physical Scientist, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, Oak Ridge, TN
• 2022 – 2023: Acting Division Director, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, Oak Ridge, TN
• 2004 – 2009: Senior Scientist, Atmospheric Research and Analysis, Inc., Snellville, GA
• 2000 – 2004: Software Engineer, Radiant Systems, Inc./Quantum Corp./Connex Inc., Atlanta, GA
• 1995 – 2000: Senior Research Scientist, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Atlanta, GA
• 1992 – 1995: Senior Research Scientist, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, Richland, WA
• 1989 – 1992: Assistant Scientist, University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research, Lexington, KY

Education:

• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
• Certificate of Unix Systems Programming, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Honors, Awards and Professional Recognition:

• U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal for Scientific or Engineering Achievement, 2023
  • • For development and implementation of Air Quality Model v6 to significantly advance operational air quality predictions for the Nation
• U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for Scientific or Engineering Achievement, 2022
  • • For the development of the Global Ensemble Forecast System – Aerosols (GEFS-Aerosols) model to support air quality alerts and visibility forecasts
• NOAA Administrator’s Award for work related to the support of the National Air Quality Forecast Capability, 2020
• Selected as one of the “Best Reviewers” for the Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association for 2012