About Me

It was the active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season that sparked my interest in the weather, as I spent that summer in front of the television waiting for each new observation and model run. When I began sixth grade science the following fall, and the first unit we studied was weather, I made the realization that I had found my calling, even at the young age of eleven. Meteorology (particularly broadcasting) combined all my strengths - science, mathematics, computers, and communications.

Over the years, I took a deep interest in the communications aspect of meteorology - presenting forecasts and other important weather information to the public. In 1996, I took the nickname of "Weatherman" Dan and presented weekly weather reports to my school via our closed-circuit television announcements program. This continued through high school as students and faculty looked forward to my regular forecasts and presentations. Only a few years later, I would find myself studying atmospheric science at Cornell University, interning in weather broadcasting, attending conferences of the American Meteorological Society, and preparing for my career.

While I learned the science of meteorology in the classroom at Cornell, I continued my broadcasting training through extra-curricular means. For four years, I worked for WVBR-FM, a commercial, non-profit radio station run completely by students, and unaffiliated with Cornell University. I served in positions ranging from Disc Jockey to President & General Manager, learning both the on-air and business sides of operating a commercial radio station. I was also recruited by Ithaca College's local television news program, Newswatch 16, as weather forecaster and on-air personality. For a week between final exams and commencement, I made my commercial television debut, as I filled in for the vacationing chief meteorologist at WENY-TV, the ABC affiliate in Elmira, New York.

In July 2006, I began work as a "SkyWARN 7 Meteorologist" with KSWO-TV in Lawton, Oklahoma. Living in the middle of Tornado Alley, station management takes severe weather very seriously, and provides our meteorologists a great deal of respect and responsibility for keeping our viewers informed and safe when dangerous weather conditions approach. Every spring, we produce an hour-long documentary about severe weather called "The Fifth Season". Perhaps my favorite part of the job is talking to local schools about weather and careers in meteorology. In only three months of SkyWARN 7 school presentations, I've already talked to over 1,000 students across Southwest Oklahoma and North Texas.

Ultimately, I'm confident my professional talents are best implemented in broadcast meteorology. Television broadcasting is a strange industry and with new technologies and focuses emerging, it's always changing. I believe very strongly in the American Meteorological Society's new "Station Scientist" initiative, as broadcast weather personalities are now encouraged to not only present a forecast, but also to educate viewers about pertinent weather or science topics. I'm now looking forward to using my Cornell University education and my broadcast experience to accurately and clearly communicate weather forecasts and information to the public as a career.

I am a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. In my spare time, I volunteer my time as a member of the Board of Directors at WVBR back in Ithaca. I also earned my amateur radio license in December 2006, and I'm a member of the Lawton Independent Repeater Alliance amateur radio club and storm spotter organization. My other interests include web programming, bowling, and roller coasters, and I'm currently a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts.

I grew up in Jackson, New Jersey where my enormously supportive parents and brother still reside. I currently live in Lawton, Oklahoma with my dog Doppler!