Jeff Beck is a Research Physical Scientist with the NOAA Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), serving as Deputy Director of the Developmental Testbed Center. He leads two DTC projects: Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) Agile Framework and Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) Stochastic Physics. Outside of DTC, Jeff plays a key leadership role as the chief of the Innovations Assessment Branch of GSL’s Earth Prediction Advancement Division and also serves as acting deputy division chief for GSL’s Assimilation and Verification Innovation Division.
Jeff’s work with stakeholders and funding agencies brings new and fresh ideas to the DTC. His enthusiastic engagement in meetings and talented communication skills enable him to pose scientifically stimulating questions that drive DTC’s testing and evaluation forward. He has the uncanny ability to perceive something in an external presentation or meeting and then translate that into ideas for innovative methods for testing and evaluation work in the DTC. His contributions to the Unified Forecast System (UFS) Short-Range Weather App are vast, and he is paving the way forward for the DTC's engagement with MPAS. Additionally, he has taken the initiative to learn the intricacies of METplus and how it can be applied to DTC activities.
During the summer of 2024, Jeff co-mentored a student from the NSF Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program, who evaluated High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) and MPAS configurations from the Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Forecast Experiment. He dedicated his time to work with the NSF SOARS protégé, explaining scientific processes related to convective weather and describing high-level numerical weather prediction concepts in a way that was both accessible and inspiring.
Jeff genuinely cares deeply, not only to advance the science we are endeavoring to develop, but also to promote an enjoyable work environment. His ability to communicate from scientific and technical perspectives with teammates, stakeholders, and sponsors has propelled the RRFS-based work forward. His contributions are incredibly valued and critical to the continued success of our projects.
