Dr. Michelle Hawkins
Department of Commerce
2022 fellow
Motivated leader and accomplished scientist with expertise in weather and climate policy.
Dr. Michelle Hawkins was most recently the Chief of the Severe, Fire, Public, and Winter Weather Services Branch in the Analyze, Forecast and Support Office (AFSO) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service (NWS). In this role, she oversaw the development of requirements, policy, and procedures for NWS forecast and warning services for some of the nation’s most dangerous weather hazards.
Dr. Hawkins has a proven track record of fostering commitment and consensus with internal and external stakeholders around important organizational priorities aimed at evolving the NWS to achieve a weather-ready nation. She leads initiatives across the federal government to better understand, communicate, and minimize the health impacts of extreme heat, resulting in collaborative life-saving improvements to federal heat services.
In 2019 she received the Black Engineer of the Year Modern Day Technology Leader Award, which recognizes professionals who are shaping the future of STEM in their careers and communities.
Dr. Hawkins earned her B.S. in Chemistry and PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from Howard University.
As a WHLDP Fellow, Dr. Hawkins is assigned to the Council on Environmental Quality.
