NOAA’s federal civilian employees at the Aircraft Operations Center play a vital role in supporting the agency’s fleet of 10 specialized aircraft. From maintenance to mission support, they help keep these aircraft ready to collect critical data that advances our understanding of the ocean and atmosphere and to help save lives and protect property. Meet Sofia de Solo, flight director at the Aircraft Operations Center.
What is your role at NOAA and what do you do?
I am a flight director here at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center. The flight director acts as a liaison between the science team and the aircrew, helping ensure the scientific mission is completed safely. As meteorologists, we provide weather support to the mission. This includes prepared weather briefs before flights, where storm structure, hazards and the scientific objectives are discussed. During flights, we help coordinate the deployment of scientific instrumentation and use our onboard radars to help guide the crew through and around the storms. Currently, I am helping lead the dropsonde program, communicating any concerns regarding the instruments data quality, ensuring utmost efficiency in our processes, and developing training materials.
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Miami, Florida.
Where did you get your training and experience before joining NOAA?
I graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a bachelor’s degree in meteorology and a minor in Geographic Information Systems. While a student, I was given the opportunity to intern with both the U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters and with the NOAA Hurricane Research Division, where I was exposed to the world of weather aircraft reconnaissance. In graduate school, I did my thesis on rapid weakening of hurricanes with an emphasis on remotely sensed data, particularly including those collected using NOAA’s G-IV and P-3 aircraft. Prior to coming to the Aircraft Operations Center, I spent a year working at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Key West, Florida.
What inspired you to work for NOAA?
I spent my early childhood summers on the beaches of South Florida and grew terrified of the daily afternoon thunderstorms. That fear quickly turned into a passion, though. I vividly remember the very active 2005 hurricane season that piqued my interest in a meteorology career. I found comfort in being informed about the many hurricane threats that year and would look forward to all National Hurricane Center updates. While at Embry-Riddle, I grew more curious about aviation while enriching my passion for tropical meteorology and made it my goal to work here.
What was one of your favorite missions or experiences?
My favorite missions so far have to be all those leading up to the landfall of Hurricanes Ian and Milton. Both hurricanes were very powerful storms, forecasted to impact the highly populous and vulnerable western coast of Florida. These flights were not only intense due to these reasons, but also because the storm was threatening the homes of many of my coworkers here at the office. Although tensions were high, the data we collected helped narrow down track forecasts and allowed for proper preparations on the ground to help protect life and property.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to work for NOAA?
If I had to advise somebody who wanted to work for NOAA, I’d suggest that whether they are curious about the feasibility of an opportunity or don’t understand a scientific concept, to always ask questions! An immense amount of knowledge and cool experiences are everywhere within NOAA that sometimes need to be sought out. I’d also remind them that growth never comes from a place of comfort and that they should seek opportunities that challenge them.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I spent a lot of my time outside of work watching baseball and am a big time Miami Marlins fan. When not watching a game on TV, I love spending time at the stadium and love to travel for baseball games. That being said, a goal of mine is to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums, and I’ve already been to 15 so far. Aside from baseball I love to spend time near the water. I love boating, fishing, sitting on the beach, kayaking and catching sunrises/sunsets.
What is your favorite aircraft and why?
I do not necessarily have a favorite aircraft. I do, however, find myself flying on the G-IV more often than others nowadays. While the P-3s gather data regarding inner storm structure at low levels, the G-IV flies much higher in the storm’s environment. This allows us to better understand the atmospheric features steering tropical cyclones and improve confidence in track forecasts. The G-IV mission often gets overlooked, despite this, because of our generally less turbulent flights.
To learn more about the instruments Sofia uses as a flight director on hurricane missions, view our Science Saturday playlist.