How Amazon’s Chief Meteorologist Protects Global Operations

Josh Kastman, a Ph.D. meteorologist formerly with the National Weather Service, has transitioned into a unique corporate role as the chief meteorologist for Amazon’s Global Security Operations Center. Kastman describes his position as a “mythical unicorn job,” representing a growing trend where Big Tech firms integrate specialized scientific expertise directly into their operational risk management frameworks. Rather than forecasting for the general public, Kastman’s work is hyper-focused on the safety of Amazon’s massive global workforce and logistics network.

Operating within the company’s Global Security Operations Center, Kastman’s primary mandate is to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events—ranging from severe winter storms to heatwaves and flooding—on Amazon’s employees and delivery partners. His role balances reactive crisis management with proactive preparedness. During periods of relative calm, he leads internal summits and develops rigorous safety playbooks, ensuring that regional sites are equipped to handle localized climate risks before they escalate into operational disruptions.

This role highlights a significant shift in how large-scale corporations approach supply chain resilience and duty of care. By embedding high-level meteorological science into their security infrastructure, companies like Amazon are moving beyond standard contingency planning to data-driven, science-backed risk mitigation. Kastman’s career path from public service to corporate leadership underscores the increasing value of specialized scientific talent in navigating the physical challenges posed by a changing global climate.