Kenneth E. Graham
Kenneth E. Graham
M.S. Geosciences, 1994
“From working big tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, winter storms to supporting the Deepwater Horizon oil spill event and being deployed to support a Superbowl, they have all had a lasting impact on my journey,” said Kenneth E. Graham, a 1994 MSU geosciences graduate who today serves as the director of the National Weather Service. Before the NWS, he served as director of the National Hurricane Center.
While he was a student at MSU, Graham remembers being excited to be part of the meteorology program. “Having a meteorological laboratory in Hilbun Hall had a huge impact on me. It was amazing to participate in weather briefings, use systems that allowed us to view satellite, radar, models, and observations, and then convert all the information into graphics to communicate weather impacts.”
One of his favorite memories, besides cowbells, includes trips to the National Weather Association meetings. “We loaded up in an MSU van and headed to St. Louis to interact with meteorology professionals from around the world. It was a chance to present my research to hundreds of NWS employees and media meteorologists. It was my first opportunity to have such an interaction, and I remain thankful for the experience. Oh, we had a GREAT time bonding on this road trip adventure!”
“When I took the position as the NWS Director, I had a clear vision to transform the agency into a more nimble, flexible, mobile NWS that is eye-to-eye with decision makers.”
Graham said he had the “great privilege” of leading the agency through some of the largest recorded storms to-date, and securing their legacy during and through the pandemic.
“Frequent work travel to visit NWS offices keeps me close to the amazing, dedicated workforce, and speeches at emergency manager events always reminds me how important our closest partners are and how critical the NWS public safety mission is to the nation.”
Decades after his MSU graduation, Graham still loves the MSU tradition of cowbells. “I loved being at a football game and hearing all the cowbells! What a sound to rally the team and make some serious noise.”
His advice to today’s MSU students includes following the profession they love the most. “When it comes to meteorology, you can be a modeler, professor, operational forecaster, broadcaster, or policy maker in the government, academia, or work in the private sector.
There are so many options, so follow that what makes you feel you have purpose and can contribute to making change,” he said.
Graham defines his days at MSU with one word, “thankful.”
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to have had such an experience that shaped who I am today. From student interactions and professional sharing, MSU and A&S opened my eyes to a whole new world beyond the textbook.”