Professor Daniel Farris is currently the Supervisory Meteorologist, Chief of Weather Station Operations for a highly technical, specialized USAF weather organization at a location in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Professor Farris was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved to the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, in 1975 and he lived there while completing elementary and high school education. Professor Farris attended Texas A&M University and graduated in August 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology.
Commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corp Program while a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, Professor Farris received my commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force on 14 August 1992.
Professor Farris's first assignment was at Barksdale AFB, where he held positions at the Wing level as a weather forecaster and Wing Weather Officer. He planned, provided and coordinated mission-critical weather support to the 2nd Bomb Wing and 917th Wing. While at Barksdale AFB, he volunteered in the Spring of 1994 to deploy for a three month rotation to the United Arab Emirates supporting Operation SOUTHERN WATCH as the OIC of weather support to U.S. air operations at the 4413th Air Refueling Squadron (Provisional).
In August 1995, as a 1st Lieutenant, Professor Farris was competitively selected to participate as a student in the inaugural meteorology class within the School of Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson AFB. He completed 69 quarter hours, plus thesis, in 18 months and graduated with a Master of Science degree in Meteorology in March 1997.
Professor Farris was promoted to Captain on 14 November 1996. In April 1997, he assumed a position as weather flight commander and staff meteorologist at a location in Las Vegas, Nevada. While at this assignment, he completed the 98-A resident class of the USAF Squadron Officer School and was a Distinguished Graduate.
In March 2001, Professor Farris decided to voluntarily separate from the Air Force after 8 ½ years of service to my country. He was offered and accepted a job in his present position as SM-CWSO, Federal civil service NH-III, Tier 2 (GS-13 equivalent), working at the same location in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also the Staff Meteorologist for my organization. Professor Farris has won the Civilian of the Quarter award for his unit seven times: in July-September 2003, in July-September 2007, in January-March 2013, October-December 2021, October-December 2022, April-June 2023, and October-December 2023. He was awarded the Non-Supervisory Civilian of the Year for 2013. In August 2014, he also assumed the ADO position for his unit. Professor Farris was awarded the unit Supervisory Civilian of the Year for 2015, 2016 and 2021.
Professor Farris is a meteorologist with over 32 years of experience working for the military in an operational Base Weather Station and over 28 years of experience as a military Staff Meteorologist. He is also a certified military dual forecaster/observer for METAR observations, TAF forecasts, and aviation weather briefs to military aircrews.
His military decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.
Professor Farris is a former member of the American Meteorological Society. He has been an adjunct instructor for Embry-Riddle University since 1998, teaching their graduate and undergraduate meteorology classes at the Nellis AFB campus. In April 2003, Professor Farris was awarded the ERAU Extended Campus Southwest Region Outstanding Faculty Award. In 2012, he was the Las Vegas Campus Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year. In 2007, Professor Farris completed Embry Riddle’s faculty requirements to become an online instructor for ERAU, and has been teaching WEAX 201 online since May 2008. He has taught WEAX 201 in the ERAU Las Vegas campus classroom and also through Eaglevision Home since May 2010. He has taught WEAX 301 Online since August 2023, WEAX 327 Online since May 2024, and WEAX 322 Online since January 2025
Daniel is married to the former Ms. Susan Lesti of Stow, Ohio and they reside in Las Vegas, Nevada with their adorable, lovable dogs – Simba and Tinkerbell (and Jasmine across the Rainbow Bridge in doggy heaven). Amen and Bow Wow.
M.S. - Master of Science in Meteorology, Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management
B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Meteorology, Texas A & M University
2001 - Present - Supervisory Meteorologist, NH-III, Dept. of the Air Force
1993-2001 - Wing Weather Office, United States Air Force