Lt Col Brandon T. Mcclung, PhD
Lt Col Brandon T. McClung is an Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science in the Engineering Physics Department at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He is a dedicated meteorologist and researcher with extensive experience in both operational weather forecasting and advanced atmospheric research.
Lt Col McClung completed his Ph.D. in Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma, where his dissertation focused on "Lightning Prediction with Deep Learning at Varying Temporal and Spatial Scales." He also holds a Master of Science in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington, a Master of Science in Applied Physics/Space Weather from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.
His professional journey includes a distinguished career as an Air Force Weather Officer, with roles at the Pentagon, in Korea, and at Davis-Monthan AFB. His research is centered on applying deep learning to atmospheric challenges, including medium-range lightning prediction and nowcasting for space operations through projects like "BoltCast" and "LaunchCast." His work has been published in journals such as Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems and presented at American Meteorological Society meetings.
Education
PhD, Meteorology, Univeristy of Oklahoma, 2026
M.S., Atmospheric Science, Univeristy of Washington, 2019
M.S., Applied Physics/Space Weather, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2015
B.S., Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 2009
Awards
Veterans Student Scholarship, 2025
1st Place, Student Presentation Award, 12th Lightning Data Conference 2025
Meritorious Service Medal, 2023
Air Force Commendation Medal
557th Weather Wing Company Grade Officer
Air Force Weather Agency Company Grade Officer of the Quarter
Publications
Refereed Publications
[2] McClung, B. T., A. McGovern, A. J. Hill, D. Schvartzman, and M. Stock, “BoltCast: Medium-Range Lightning Prediction with Neural and Long Short-Term Memory Networks”, Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems (2026)
[1] Fiorino, S. T., R. J. Bartell, M. J. Krizo, B. T. McClung, J. J. Cohen, R. M. Randall, S. J. Cusumano, “road-Spectrum Optical Turbulence Assessments from Climatological Temperature”, Pressure, Humidity, and Wind, Journal for Directed Energy (2009)
Publications Under Review
[1] McClung, B. T., A. McGovern, A. J. Hill, D. Schvartzman, A. Anderson-Frey, and M. Stock, “LaunchCast: Lightning Nowcasting at Kennedy Space Center with Deep Learning and Surface Electric Field Measurements”, Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems (2026)