Chandra Kondragunta, Ph.D. is the Program Manager for the Joint Technology Transfer Initiative at NOAA’s Office of Weather and Air Quality. As the Program Manager, Chandra is responsible for ensuring continuous development and transition of the latest scientific and technological advances into operations through the Research to Operations (R2O) transition process collaborating with the National Weather Service (NWS) and managing a multimillion dollar research to operations budget.
Over the course of his career, Chandra has worked in several line offices within NOAA including The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) and the National Weather Service (NWS). While at NWS, Chandra developed automated rain gauge QC tools, which are central to the hydrologic operational mission of the NWS and improved the operational Quantitative Precipitation Estimation by integrating satellite precipitation estimates in the existing MPE algorithm.
Prior to joining the Federal Government, Chandra worked on NOAA funded projects as a research scientist for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, University of Maryland and as a contractor at National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He has published several papers in scientific journals and presented at professional association meetings including American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting and American Meteorological Society’s Annual Meeting.
Chandra Kondragunta has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Meteorology from India, and a Doctorate degree in Meteorology from the University of Hawaii. In 2012, Chandra graduated the DOC Executive Leadership Development Program and in 2018 received an OAR length of service award for his 20-years of service. In his leisure time, Chandra likes to walk his pet dog Champion, listen to music, watch movies, go hiking and bike riding. Chandra currently resides in Clarksville, MD with his wife and two adult children.
