Follow me:

Defining Coverage

This section highlights key professional experiences that have shaped my approach to meteorology, leadership, and real-time decision making. Each moment illustrates not just memorable assignments but times when judgment, coordination, and clear communication were essential. Rather than simply recounting events, the sections show how these experiences reflect sustained responsibility, strategic adaptation under pressure, and a commitment to delivering accurate, meaningful information to the communities I serve.

Hurricane Harvey 2017: Strategic Coverage During Historic Flooding

During Hurricane Harvey, the scale and persistence of rainfall quickly became the defining threat. As conditions evolved, our coverage pivoted from wind impacts to historic flooding across southeast Texas. I focused on clearly communicating rainfall rates, flood timelines, and downstream consequences as the event unfolded, helping viewers understand not just what was happening, but what was coming next.

The challenge was not volume of information, but prioritization. Translating complex hydrologic data into actionable guidance required constant coordination with the newsroom and emergency messaging partners, with an emphasis on clarity and repetition as conditions worsened.

Hurricane Ian 2022: Anticipating Risk in a Complex, Evolving Storm

Hurricane Ian presented one of the most complex flooding scenarios Florida has faced in decades. Early recognition of the extreme rainfall and surge potential shifted our coverage strategy well ahead of landfall. Rather than focusing solely on the storm track, we emphasized flood vulnerability, inland impacts, and prolonged hazards that would persist long after the eyewall passed.

That approach proved critical as catastrophic flooding developed far from the coast. Maintaining calm, consistent messaging helped viewers make informed decisions in rapidly changing conditions, while coordination across platforms ensured continuity as the event extended over multiple days.

Reporting from Chopper: Situational Awareness From the Air

While at WFLA Tampa, I regularly reported from the station’s helicopter, combining live meteorology with aerial videography to support real time decision making and viewer understanding. These assignments ranged from routine weather monitoring to extended coverage of complex, fast moving events, including a police pursuit that spanned from Tampa to Orlando.

Several flights stand out for the perspective they provided rather than the novelty of access. This included landing on Egmont Key on a deteriorating World War II era helipad to document the island’s erosion into Tampa Bay’s shipping channel, as well as coverage from the National Hurricane Center in Miami and low level passes along the Peace River in Highlands County. Each assignment reinforced the value of situational awareness, coordination, and context when translating aerial observations into meaningful information for the public.

Hurricane Sandy 2012: Decision Making Inside Extreme Conditions

One of the most formative experiences of my career came in October 2012, when I flew into Hurricane Sandy aboard a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft. The mission involved conducting in-storm surveys inside the storm as it moved over the Bahamas and toward New Jersey and New York, contributing to real time data collection during a historically significant event.

Conditions inside the aircraft underscored the seriousness of the work. Severe turbulence through the eyewall required constant focus and coordination among the crew, reinforcing the importance of preparation, discipline, and trust in high risk operational environments.

Mid-flight, the mission presented an unexpected operational challenge. We inadvertently entered an active United States Navy surface-to-air missile testing range in the northeast quadrant of the hurricane over the open Atlantic. A direct transmission from the Navy prompted an immediate course correction, and the pilot executed a rapid turn to exit the restricted area before re-entering the storm. We later learned the Navy was conducting live training exercises using drone targets within the hurricane, and our active transponder ensured we were quickly identified and cleared without incident.

That experience deepened my respect for the NOAA and United States Air Force crews who routinely operate in the planet’s most extreme conditions. Their work provides critical data that improves hurricane forecasting and directly supports public safety. It remains a defining example of how preparation, coordination, and real time decision making shape outcomes when the margin for error is small.

Experience That Shapes

These moments reflect more than individual assignments. They represent years of experience built through sustained responsibility, time spent in the field, and repeated exposure to complex, high pressure situations. Together, they form the foundation of how I approach leadership today — with preparation, perspective, and a steady focus on clear communication when it matters most.