Thomas M. Smith is a physical scientist in Satellite Applications and Research/NESDIS/NOAA and CICS/ESSIC/University of Maryland. His education includes degrees in mathematics, meteorology, and oceanography. Over the years, he has worked as a visiting scientist at NASA/Goddard Institute of Space Studies, in a post-doctoral position at Climate Prediction Center/NOAA, as an oceanographer at Climate Prediction Center, and as a physical scientist at National Climatic Data Center and at Satellite Applications and Research. He has taken part in oceanic and climate research including development and implementation of oceanic and terrestrial analyses, interpretation and validation of climate models, and development of improvements in climate prediction systems. He has published a number of peer review articles and given conference presentations based on that research.