Douglas Schumacher

Douglas Schumacher proudly graduated from UW-Madison AOS with a bachelor’s degree in spring 2020, along with a certificate in Computer Sciences. He grew up in northern Wisconsin, and has had a lifelong interest in meteorology and technology. During his undergraduate years, Douglas completed a weather internship at WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin, and a summer research position on flash droughts at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, in addition to computer technician roles at a local IT company and UW-Madison’s Department of Biochemistry.

In late 2020, Douglas joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center as a Meteorological Software Specialist, where he continues to work today. In this role, Douglas is a contractor for the National Weather Service on two projects that integrate hardware and open-source software solutions to collect, process, and deliver low-latency low-earth orbiting weather satellite data to NWS offices in Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam, along with geostationary weather satellite data to NWS national centers and OCONUS offices. Douglas also assists the SSEC Satellite Data Services team, tasked with managing many of the meteorological data flows serving scientists in the AOSS building, along with external public and private sector users. Additionally, Douglas is a staff meteorologist and technical director for Great Lakes Weather Service, a Wisconsin-based small business focused on custom weather forecasting and consultation services.

Douglas is excited to serve on the AOS AEB, and is always happy to make new connections. For example, as a UW staff member, Douglas continues to participate in the WxChallenge forecasting competition, engaging with current students on modern forecasting techniques and best practices, and has been involved with hiring multiple current AOS students to work at SSEC. As a recent transplant to the Marquette, MI area, he is also keenly interested in engaging with AOS alumni that have followed careers outside of Wisconsin’s borders.