CESM Chief Scientists

The Climate System Model (CSM) started in 1994. CSM was renamed in 2000 as the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) to recognize the community of developers, contributors, and users. To reflect its expanding Earth system capabilities, the model was renamed as the Community Earth System Model (CESM) around 2011. Between 1994 and ~1999, the CGD director plus one other senior scientist assumed the lead role in setting the direction and priorities for the coupled system. Since then, a Chief Scientist – early on referred to as the Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) – has been leading these efforts. Below is a list of CESM Chief Scientists to date:

• Byron Boville (July 1999 – June 2001)
• Jeff Kiehl (July 2001 – June 2003)
• Bill Collins (July 2003 – June 2005)
• Peter Gent (July 2005 – September 2009)
• Jim Hurrell (October 2009 – August 2011)
• Marika Holland (September 2011 – February 2014)
• Jean-Francois Lamarque (March 2014 – January 2018)
• Gokhan Danabasoglu (February 2018 – August 2023)
• Dave Lawrence (August 2023 – present)