NOAA Names Climate Expert Sarah Kapnick as Chief Scientist

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced Sarah Kapnick as its new chief scientist. She is now responsible for setting the direction of NOAA’s science and technology policies.

Now in her second stint at the agency, Kapnick brings 18 years of experience in climate science and economics. She was most recently a managing director at J.P. Morgan, where she served as senior climate scientist and sustainability strategist for asset and wealth management, NOAA said.

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said that Kapnick offers expertise in climate prediction and modeling as well as experience in both the public and private sectors.

In a press release, Kapnick said she is honored to return to NOAA and highlighted its climate products’ role in commerce and the daily lives of Americans.

“The continuous development of our science and climate related products will be critical to support the economy, address climate change and ensure healthy oceans,” she added.

Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in 2021, Kapnick served as deputy division leader for seasonal to decadal variability and predictability at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid and Dynamics Laboratory. Her portfolio of work covered seasonal climate prediction, extreme storms and climate impacts.

She was also a climate expert for NOAA’s Small Business Innovation Research program, the Eastern Region Climate Team and other agency efforts.

Kapnick earned a doctorate in atmospheric and oceanic sciences from the University of California Los Angeles and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Princeton University.