Micah Weltmer, Ph.D., has more than 20 years of leadership experience in science-based, data-driven risk management and decision support. Micah received a bachelor’s degree in geosciences from Penn State University, and both a master’s degree in meteorology & physical oceanography and doctorate in physical oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School, where his work centered around nearshore and estuarine processes. He additionally has strong background in autonomous maritime systems, ocean and atmospheric modeling, knowledge management, and organizational design.

Prior to joining the Institute, Micah served 24 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a Captain in 2022. He managed environmental sensing, modeling, and decision support programs with total budgets up to $120 million and led highly skilled teams of Sailors from coast to coast and overseas from Japan to Italy. Most recently, he served as the Chief Science & Technology Officer at the Navy’s Meteorology and Oceanography headquarters, where he managed a $300 million annual portfolio that designed and implemented scientific and technical innovations toward improving the Navy’s environmental science operations and decision support.