Brandon Locklear knows weather. As a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Raleigh, Locklear puts his profession to work every day to protect lives across the region.
“I have 15 years at the National Weather Service. The one reason that I am there today is because of AISES — American Indian Science and Engineering Society,” he said. “While at N.C. State University, AISES gave me an opportunity through a paid internship at the weather service in Raleigh and I did so well, I guess that they wanted me to work there full-time once I graduated.”
Locklear spoke to students at Purnell Swett High School this fall through a special STEM project.
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For the past two years, the school has welcomed engineering presenters and researchers to talk with students about careers in STEM-related fields.
“In the National Weather Service, there are all kinds of opportunities, including Alaska and Hawaii. You have meteorologist in the private sector, marine biologist, oceanographers and forensic meteorology is also really cool. It involves using weather to predict when certain crimes happened,” Locklear said. “You could be a meteorologist in the Air Force. The military has all these drones, so they have to produce forecast to use a drone. Weather is not going anywhere. It is a good job.”
For students like 11th-grader Jaimson Lowery, the STEM Project has changed his perspective on his future, which in turn caused him to change courses.
“I already have changed my classes. Originally I was going to take calculus this year, but I changed to chemistry because I want to go in AP,” Lowery said. “Since I am going into the medical field and engineering, I thought it would be very helpful.”
Brandon Locklear said that, more than anything, he hopes the students will see other futures along their path and put their education to work.
“I wanted to convey to them if you just stick with it there will be ups and there will be downs, but we can persevere and be successful with anything you put your mind to,” he said. “It doesn’t matter that you come from a small rural county.”