Trump Finally Picks a Science Adviser—And People Are Delighted

For decades, the meteorologist Kelvin Droegemeier has been immersed in the study of thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other extreme weather. Now he looks set to enter the unpredictable and stormy world of the Trump administration as its top scientific consigliere. As The Washington Post reported, the president has tapped Droegemeier to direct the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), an office that has advised past presidents on everything from Ebola outbreaks to nuclear meltdowns.

The directorship is as close to a Cabinet-level position in science and technology as there is. It has also gone unfilled for the 19 in the OSTP’s 42-year history. For comparison, George W. Bush set the previous record for the longest delay when he took four months to choose his nominee, while Barack Obama made his pick a month beforehis inauguration.