Neil Jacobs | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere | |
Acting | |
| In office February 25, 2019 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Timothy Gallaudet |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Friedman (acting) |
| Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction | |
| In office February 15, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Stephen Volz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1973-12-12)December 12, 1973 (age 51) Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of South Carolina (BS,BS) North Carolina State University (MS,PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Atmospheric science |
| Institutions |
|
| Thesis | The role of marine thermal gradient structure on Gulf Stream-related extratropical cyclogenesis (2005) |
| Doctoral advisors |
|
| Other academic advisors | Leonard J. Pietrafesa |
Neil Andrew Jacobs, Jr. (born December 12, 1973)[1] is an American scientist and former government official who served as the actingUnder Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).[2] In 2025, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump nominated Jacobs to the position of NOAA Administrator.[3]
Jacobs was born inColorado Springs, Colorado.[1] He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees, in mathematics and physics, from theUniversity of South Carolina in 1997, followed by a Master of Science and PhD in atmospheric science fromNorth Carolina State University.[4][5]
After completing his doctoral degree in 2005, Jacobs went to work with North Carolina–based AirDat LLC to work on the development of theirTAMDAR (Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting) weather monitoring system as their director of research and business development. He stayed on with the company when the company was acquired byPanasonic Avionics Corporation in 2013.[6] At Panasonic, he served as chief atmospheric scientist from 2013 until he was asked by President Trump to join the government in 2018.[7]
During his time at AiRDat and Panasonic, Jacobs also worked on a small team of atmospheric scientists atWorld Meteorological Organization and served as chair of theAmerican Meteorological Society's Forecast Improvement Group.[7]
In 2017, Jacobs was nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and was confirmed on February 15, 2018.[8] WhenTimothy Gallaudet, the actingNOAA Administrator asked to be allowed to focus on his Senate-confirmed position as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in February 2018, Jacobs became the Acting NOAA Administrator and late the next year he was nominated to take on the role permanently whenBarry Myers withdrew from consideration for health reasons.[9] After not being confirmed in 2019, he was re-nominated in 2020.[10][11] A hearing on his nomination was held in March 2020 and his nomination was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in May of that year.[12] On January 3, 2021, his nomination was returned to the President underRule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of theUnited States Senate.[13]
In September 2019, PresidentDonald Trump claimed thatHurricane Dorian would make landfall overAlabama. After receiving several inquiries from residents, NOAA released a statement that Dorian would not reach Alabama. In anOval Office briefing with reporters, Trump displayed a map including the altered projection that Dorian would make landfall in Alabama. On September 6, NOAA released a statement in support of Trump's claim, including Alabama in the list of states that Dorian was expected to reach.[14][15] Eventually, the path of Hurricane Dorian did not actually affect Alabama at all. In June 2020, an internal investigation found that Jacobs had violated NOAA's code of ethics by issuing a statement in support of Trump's claim.[16][17][18]
On February 4, 2025, newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump nominated Jacobs to the position of NOAA Administrator.[3]
Jacobs lives inDurham, North Carolina, with his wife and two children.[19] Jacobs is an avid surfer in theOuter Banks region.[20]