In this Member Spotlight, we are featuring Davyon Hill, the Lead Forecaster for the SHV-Shreveport, LA SR Branch 2-10, who has been with the National Weather Service for 11 years.
Where are you from originally, and what sparked your interest to pursue a career in weather?
I was born and raised in East Texas, in the great city of Tyler. Growing up, I had a fear of lightning, which I later learned is called Astraphobia (also known as brontophobia or keraunophobia). Because of this fear, I became very interested in the weather forecast so I could be aware of impending hazardous weather. I would watch the Weather Channel and local TV meteorologists around the clock. After years of watching meteorologists, the science started to make sense to me, and I became interested in becoming an Operational Meteorologist.
A couple of years after high school, I enrolled at the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM), where I graduated in 2007 with a degree in Atmospheric Science.
What’s your history working within the NWS?
As a student at ULM, I was fortunate enough to sign up for an elective meteorology credit which involved interning at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Jackson, MS. After a couple semesters of doing this, I knew the NWS was my career choice. After graduating college in 2007, I started volunteering at the NWS in Shreveport, LA while awaiting a job offer from the organization. However, it didn’t happen overnight. It took about six years and hundreds of applications before I finally secured a position at the NWS in Elko, NV. By 2014, I was able to return closer to home with a transfer back to the NWS in Shreveport. Currently, I remain in Shreveport, where I have advanced from an Intern to Lead Forecaster in my 11th year with the NWS.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
My biggest joy with my job is that I get to help save lives, whether it is through my warnings or forecasts. Also, I enjoy doing outreach in the community to discuss weather and weather safety. I have also recently been more involved with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) over the past several years since becoming the African American Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM) in the Southern Region and being a part of the Southern Region Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Team (BIDE) and the NWS Diversity Management Council. This has allowed me to reach out to underserved communities with the hope of creating a more Weather-Ready Nation and a more diverse workforce to better accomplish the mission of the NWS.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Outside of work, you'll often find me either watching or occasionally attending sporting events. I'm an avid consumer of podcasts and music, and I enjoy indulging in documentaries and programs centered around history and cultural geography. When I'm not engaged in these activities, I prioritize spending time with family and friends. I also dedicate some time to home projects, all while keeping an eye on the weather.
Why did you join NWSEO?
I joined the NWSEO immediately after starting my career at the NWS in Elko, NV, largely due to the encouragement of the Shreveport NWS Union Steward at that time. My reason for joining was for protection. In all my previous employment, I never had the option of being part of a Union because that option was not available. Due to this lack of protection, I observed employers taking advantage of hard-working people, and I was determined not to experience that again.
Would you recommend joining NWSEO to others?
Many people across the country don’t have the option to have union representation or a “voice” in their company/agency or the direction it is moving without fear of repercussions. This is something I don’t take for granted because it has allowed me and my colleagues to gain certain privileges and benefits that would likely not be available under different circumstances. Because of this, I would definitely recommend that you at least give the NWSEO membership a fair shot. Sometimes negotiations may not turn out how you would like, but given the option of union or no union, I will always choose to have representation.
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