Weather wins

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affaris
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Education and Training Command recently announced a Tyndall Airman as the 2009 Weather Senior NCO of the Year.

Master Sgt. Lisa R. Gore, Weather Flight Chief, 325th Operations Support Squadron, has been serving in the United States Air Force as a weather forecaster for almost two decades and has no plans on slowing down.

"I joined the Air Force out of Johnstown, Penn.," said Sergeant Gore. "It was a small town with very little opportunities. I wanted to get out and see the world and get an education."

Sergeant Gore entered the Air Force with no idea of what her career would be.

"I did not choose weather," said Sergeant Gore. "The Air Force picked it for me. I think I got really lucky."

Since her career began, she has seen a vast number of changes.

"It was almost archaic when I started out," said Sergeant Gore. "We would get these huge paper print outs and we would have to sit there with a marker and draw out the charts and analyze them by hand. Weather has definitely leaped into the computer age."

Now, her day-to-day routine has simplified greatly.

"There are agencies out there that generate computer models that we are able to look at," said Sergeant Gore. "We forecast three-dimensionally and there are at least seven significant levels that we look at. But, that is just the surface; the charts go out about 48 to 72 hours and based off of that it will tell us if there is a high or low, precipitation, temperature function, and so forth. Then, we press it all together and we come up with the forecast."

Weather also has a huge impact on base function.

"We do everything from forecasting Tyndall's weather to ensuring that the wing commander and the group commanders are aware of any resource protection issues," said Sergeant Gore. "We also brief, not only our aircrews that fly their missions locally and train the students, but also the aircraft that come in here to fly overseas."

Sergeant Gore takes her career seriously, but she also dedicates a lot to her role as supervisor.

"She is definitely a selfless leader," said Staff Sgt. Tricia Briggs, Weather Forecaster, 325th OSS. "She won't make you do anything she would not do herself."

Overall, Sergeant Gore has thoroughly enjoyed her career.

"I really appreciate the places I have been and the people I have met," said Sergeant Gore. "It never amazes me the caliber of people in the Air Force. That is why it is so important to enjoy where you are and what you are doing. We have been given a very rare opportunity that only a small amount of the population gets to experience."