Mark Svoboda

As the NDMC’s Director, Svoboda administers and oversees the center’s staff and mission, which involves the research, operational, planning and education/outreach programs of the NDMC and NOAA’s Drought Risk Management Research Center. Mark works closely with federal, tribal, state, basin, local and international officials and governments on drought monitoring early warning information systems, drought risk management planning and collaborative research. He provides expertise on a wide range of climate-water management issues and is responsible for assessing user product needs and responding to information and decision support requests. Svoboda is involved with drought monitoring, assessment and prediction committees and activities at the state, regional, tribal, national and international levels. Mark Svoboda is the co-founder (1999), and served for 17 years as one of the principal authors of the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor (http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu). His work with the Core Team of the Western Governors’ Association led to the development of a report and recommendations on creating a National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) for the United States, which was authorized by Congress into public law in 2006. Mark Svoboda is a member of the World Meteorological Organization/Global Water Partnership Integrated Drought Management Programme’s Advisory Panel and currently serves on the NIDIS Executive Council.