Robert H. Simpson (November 19 1912 – December 18 2014) was an American meteorologist renowned for his contributions to tropical cyclone research and for co‑developing the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. He served as the first director of the National Hurricane Research Project (1955–1959) and later as director of the National Hurricane Center (1967–1974).
Early life and education
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Simpson survived the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane, an experience that later influenced his career choice. He earned a B.S. in physics from Southwestern University (1933), an M.S. in physics from Emory University (1935), and a Ph.D. in meteorology from the University of Chicago (1962), where his doctoral advisor was Herbert Riehl.
Career
United States Weather Bureau – Simpson joined the Weather Bureau in 1940, initially as a junior observer in Brownsville, Texas. During World War II he served as a forecaster in New Orleans and later helped establish an Army Air Force weather school in Panama, where he participated in his first hurricane flight.
National Hurricane Research Project – In 1955, following heightened public and congressional concern after the devastating 1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Simpson was appointed director of the newly created National Hurricane Research Project. He guided the project through its formative years, securing funding and establishing research priorities.
Project Stormfury – After completing his doctorate, Simpson directed the experimental hurricane‑seeding program Stormfury (1962–1965), which investigated the use of silver iodide to weaken tropical cyclones.
National Hurricane Center – As deputy director (1967) and then director (1968–1974) of the National Hurricane Center, Simpson reorganized the agency, instituted the role of “hurricane specialist,” expanded satellite operations, and oversaw the issuance of advisories on subtropical storms. In collaboration with civil engineer Herbert Saffir, he co‑developed the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, a widely used classification system based on maximum sustained wind speed.
Later work – Upon retiring from government service in 1974, Simpson and his wife, meteorologist Joanne Simpson, founded Simpson Weather Associates, a consulting firm. Both joined the faculty of the University of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Sciences, contributing to international field experiments such as GATE, MONEX, ITEX, and COARE. Simpson co‑authored The Hurricane and Its Impacts and served as senior editor for HURRICANE! Coping with Disaster.
Honors and awards
Simpson was an honorary member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and a Fellow of the Explorers Club of New York. He received the Department of Commerce Gold Medal, the Cleveland Abbe Award from the AMS, and gold medals from both the United States and France for his scientific contributions.
Personal life and death
Simpson married fellow meteorologist Joanne Malkus in 1965; she later directed Stormfury and co‑led their consulting firm. He lived in Washington, D.C., until his death at age 102 following a stroke on December 18 2014. Both he and Joanne Simpson are interred at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Legacy
Robert Simpson’s leadership in hurricane research, his role in establishing modern forecasting practices, and the enduring Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale cement his reputation as a pivotal figure in 20th‑century meteorology.