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Press biography

Adam Kalkstein, Ph.D.

Adam Kalkstein is a climate scientist, researcher, and educator whose work focuses on climate change, human health, extreme heat, severe weather, and military preparedness. He taught climatology and geography at West Point for more than 17 years and is a Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech. His scholarship includes heat-related mortality, weather and health, tropical cyclones, and climate-informed national security.

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Adam J. Kalkstein, Ph.D., is an applied climate scientist whose work examines how weather and climate affect human health, public systems, and military readiness. He earned a B.A. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography/Climatology from Arizona State University.

For more than 17 years, Adam taught climatology, meteorology, and geography at the United States Military Academy. He mentored cadets and led externally funded research involving extreme heat and soldier health, influenza, severe-weather preparedness, tropical cyclones, and national security. He has also contributed to Army Science Board and IPCC review processes and held leadership roles in the International Society of Biometeorology.

Expertise

Areas Adam can discuss.

01Climate science and climatology

02Extreme heat and human health

03Biometeorology

04Weather-linked public-health risks

05Severe weather preparedness

06Tropical cyclones

07Military readiness and force protection

08Climate change and national security

09Climate education and scientific integrity

Story angles

Specific interview topics.

What scientists mean by human-caused climate change

Why extreme heat is a health risk—not just a weather story

How weather intelligence protects troops and military installations

What climate change means for strategy in the Arctic and beyond

How public agencies can communicate uncertainty without distorting evidence

Teaching climate science in politically charged institutions

Coverage

Selected reporting.

Original reporting and substantial coverage are prioritized over syndicated copies.

ReportingAugust 27, 2026
The New York Times / The Philadelphia Inquirer

West Point climate professor says he was fired for refusing to ‘defy science’

ReportingAugust 27, 2026
The Guardian

West Point’s only climate scientist fired after continuing to teach human causes of climate change

ReportingAugust 26, 2026
Stars and Stripes

West Point professor fired after pushing back on limitations to teaching climate change, lawsuit says

InterviewAugust 26, 2026
The Independent

Trump demands ‘lies’ in West Point climate curriculum, professor claims in new lawsuit

ReportingAugust 26, 2026
Gothamist

West Point professor says he was pushed out for objecting to climate directive

ReportingAugust 26, 2026
Spectrum News 1

Lawsuit accuses West Point of firing professor over climate change instruction

ReportingAugust 26, 2026
Times Union

West Point sued for allegedly firing professor over climate change stance

High-resolution portrait of Dr. Adam Kalkstein

Press asset

Editorial-use portrait.

Credit: U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Please confirm usage rights and requested credit with Adam before publication.

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