(October 2, 2023) - The National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO) is pleased to welcome Tom Fahy as the organization’s new Legislative Director. Tom is a long-time lobbyist whose consulting practice has expanded from political campaign management for Members of Congress to include government relations and public affairs representation for non-profit organizations and private sector clients with advocacy interests before Congress and the Administration. He has worked closely and has strengthened friendships with both sides of the political aisle over several sessions of Congress.
Prior to joining the NWSEO team, Tom extensively lobbied on the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, the 2023 Reauthorization of the Weather Act, and related appropriations bills. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA). At AMS he served on two boards, the Board of Economic Enterprise Development, and the Board of Enterprise Communication. He served six years as the Program Planning Chair for the AMS Washington Forum, which is an influential policy meeting on weather, water, and climate issues. He served ten years as Board Secretary of the Emergency Interoperability Consortium (EIC) that was chartered by the Science & Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security and also served on the National AMBER Alert Advisory Board at the Department of Justice.
Tom is no stranger to NOAA and National Weather Service circles. He was a contractor for NWS Operations, Research, and Facilities working on NOAA Weather Radio. He currently serves as an advisor to former NOAA Administrator, Dr. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, VADM USN (ret.) whose company championed NOAA usage of commercial satellite weather data. Tom successfully lobbied for private satellite operators to sell GPS-RO earth observation data to NOAA. Tom also worked four years with former NOAA Administrator, Dr. Neil Jacobs, when Neil was Chief Atmospheric Scientist at Panasonic Avionics Corporation.
“National Weather Service employees are our front-line troops that warn the country about the ravages of extreme weather impacts. They are always on alert and maintain their vigilance for communities across the country” Tom says. “Part of my mission will be to inform Members of Congress and their staffers about the commitment and dedication of NWSEO members and to advocate for increased resources for their maximum readiness to continue their work that saves lives.”
Tom lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Sheila, a senior news producer and documentary filmmaker along with their two Labrador Retrievers, both who are rescues. A lifelong learner, Tom is currently enrolled in Stanford University’s LEAD Program at the Graduate School of Business.
Click here for a list of Tom’s interactions with NOAA and on weather legislation.