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“A valuable biography of an unsung scientist. And although Porter’s admiration for her subject is apparent, what makes this book special is her painstaking research, which accompanies her father’s notes . . . interviews with his contemporaries, but also extensive archival research.” —Kirkus Reviews (featured in the June 1, 2025 issue of Kirkus Reviews Magazine)
Perfect for fans of Hidden Figures and The Man Who Caught the Storm.
When Alonzo Smith Jr. walked into rooms where no Black meteorologist had stood before, he didn’t just forecast the weather, he had fulfilled a childhood dream that challenged perceptions about who was qualified to be a scientist.
Set against the backdrop of segregation, The Weather Officer spans forty years beginning in the 1930s with Alonzo’s impoverished upbringing in Harlem and Washington, DC. Despite being a gifted student, Alonzo’s domineering father forces him to drop out of high school and work to help support the family. Unfortunately, this doesn’t prevent the Smiths from getting evicted.
Just when things can’t get any worse, Alonzo is drafted and swept up into World War II. He survives the deadliest battle in the South Pacific and returns home to resume his studies. Alonzo enrolls at Howard University where he finds himself under the mentorship of several Black pilots, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Standing on their shoulders, his dream of being a scientist finally becomes a reality.
Defying the oppressive views that seek to hold him back, Alonzo serves as a weather officer in the US Air Force and builds a beautiful life with his wife, Betty. Together, they overcome impossible odds.
At the dawn of the Computer Age, Alonzo receives awards and accolades for his groundbreaking achievements in weather forecasting and aviation technology. However, he grapples with conflicting loyalties that surface during the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. In the wake of national turmoil, he questions whether America will truly ever become the land of equality for everyone.
The Weather Officer is more than a biography. It’s the author’s tribute to her father’s inspiring legacy—a heartfelt story of hope, perseverance, and a poignant reminder of what matters most.