Rick Thoman is an Alaska and Arctic climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where much of his work is focused on providing timely and relevant climate related information to the people, tribes and organizations of Alaska. He has also contributed to many Arctic-wide climate related activities, including NOAA's Arctic Report Card and the World Meteorological Organization's Polar Prediction Project Societal and Economic Research Application task team. He has more than 40 years experience as a weather and climate professional in the public, private and academic sectors, including 30 years with the National Weather Service Alaska Region.