Dr. Alexander E. (Sandy) MacDonald was named the first Director of the Earth System Research Laboratory and first Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA Research Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes on July 27, 2006. Dr. MacDonald served as Acting Director for the Earth System Research Laboratory and Director of the ESRL Global Systems Division during the consolidation of the Boulder Laboratories into the Earth System Research Laboratory in 2006. Prior to the consolidation, Dr. MacDonald led the Forecast Systems Laboratory.  Dr. MacDonald was the Director of the Program for Regional Observing and Forecasting Services (PROFS) from 1983 to 1988. From 1980 - 1982, he was Chief of PROFS' Exploratory Development Group and from 1975 - 1980 he was a Techniques Improvement Meteorologist in the Scientific Services Division, Western Region, National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, UT. He was an Air Force Officer while a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1967 - 1971

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Meteorology (Minor in Computer Science), University of Utah, 1975
M.S. in Meteorology, University of Utah, 1973
B.S. in Mathematics/Physics, Montana State University, 1967
USAF Weather Course Certificate in Meteorology, St. Louis University, 1968

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2006                Acting Director, Earth System Research Laboratory, NOAA
1988 - 2006    Director, Forecast Systems Laboratory, NOAA
1983 - 1988    Director of the Program for Regional Observing and Forecasting Services
                        (PROFS), Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL), NOAA
1980 - 1982    Chief of PROFS, Exploratory Development Group, ERL, NOAA
1975 - 1980    Techniques Improvement Meteorologist in the Scientific Services Division,
                        Western Region National Weather Service, NOAA in Salt Lake City
1973 - 1975    University of Utah - Research Fellowship
1971 - 1973    University of Utah - Instructor, Synoptic Meteorology Laboratory
1967 - 1971    Officer, U.S. Air Force

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

American Meteorological Society
National Weather Association

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. MacDonald has published in atmospheric modeling, statistics, dynamics, and meteorological systems. His interests are applications of science and technology to improve operational forecasting.

ACTIVITIES

2005    Patent #6,937,210, "Projecting Images on a Sphere", Alexander E. MacDonald
2002    Patent #6,421,010, "Atmospheric Sondes and Method for Tracking", Russell B.
            Chadwick and Alexander E. MacDonald
1994    Executive Committee Member, AMS; AMS Fellow
1993    Developed GLOBE Program (a Vice-Presidential Initiative)
1992    Councilor, AMS three-year appointment
1983 - Present   Lecturer at numerous AMS chapters throughout the United States.
1987 - Present   Member, AMS Committee on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology
1984 - Present   Member, Panel on Mesoscale Research, NRC
1988 - Present   Fellow with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere -   
                          Colorado State University
1983 - 1988      Set up workstations to allow demonstrations of PROFS' unique capabilities
                          to a large number of federal agencies, e.g., FAA, NWS, NESS, NESDIS, AF,
                          AWS, DOD, and numerous universities.

AWARDS

2001    Presidential Rank Award - Meritorious
1997    Presidential Rank Award - Distinguished
1993    Gold Medal - Leadership in Technology Transfer
1980    Bronze Medal - Accomplishments in NWS AFOS Program