Since graduating from the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources in May 2025, Kirsten Robinson has launched a career that combines her passions for atmospheric sciences and military service. Commissioned as a weather officer through the U.S. Air Force, she is now active duty and applying skills gained through her time in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR).
“It’s really cool because I’m applying what I learned right away,” Robinson said. “I’ve already briefed pilots on the impact of upcoming weather, helping ensure their safety as they travel across the country.”
In her role, Robinson and her team help support the overall safety and successful operation of the base with respect to weather hazards by providing reliable weather information, monitoring severe conditions and using radar analysis tools to assess potential weather threats. She credits many of her courses with preparing her for these responsibilities — but one class in particular plays a large role in her daily work.
“I really liked Radar, which I took in my senior year,” Robinson said. “In that class, we learned GR2Analyst, a tool used to interpret radar data. Surprisingly, it was one of the first tools I used during my first month on active duty. When they asked if I knew how to use it, I said, ‘Actually, yes!’ It was great to go into the job already knowing something important we use to brief pilots.”
Looking back, her decision to pursue a degree through the School of Natural Resources was a natural fit. Robinson said she has always been drawn to military service, coming from a family with a father who served in the Army and a brother who served in the Marines. Knowing that the University of Missouri houses the state’s primary Air Force ROTC detachment, she looked up the various degree options at the university during her senior year of high school.
“I saw the environmental sciences major with an emphasis in atmospheric sciences and immediately thought, ‘This is for me. I’m going to the Air Force, and there’s a big need for weather officers,’” explained Robinson, a Perryville, Missouri, native. “Now I’m here doing weather for the Air Force. It’s kind of crazy; it’s come full circle.”
Robinson credits scholarships, including one from the CAFNR Foundation, with easing the financial burden of her academics. The demands of her studies and ROTC left little time for outside work to cover essentials like gas, groceries and other expenses not covered by her ROTC stipend, which only paid for her apartment, she explained.
Scholarships further afforded Robinson the opportunity to use her limited free time to engage in extracurricular activities, such as joining the Mizzou Meteorology Club.
“I didn’t get to know my classmates very well until I joined the meteorology club in my senior year,” Robinson said. “And it was nice because you’re building these relationships with people that extend beyond the classroom. It makes the degree so much more rewarding.”
Building those relationships was just as important for positive memories as it was for the support they provided during challenging times. As the courses grew more demanding throughout her studies, Robinson found comfort in leaning on her CAFNR connections for guidance.
“There were times I had to go into professors’ offices and simply say I was struggling,” she said. “They really helped me through those moments. Knowing they were experts in their fields and genuinely wanted to support me was incredibly reassuring.”
Throughout her time at CAFNR, Robinson grew not only as a student but also as a leader and professional. Before graduation, she oversaw several cadets as a Mission Support Group Commander through the ROTC program at Mizzou. She embraced the challenging courses and enjoyed various CAFNR-specific opportunities, from maple tree tapping to learning from guest speakers in meteorology club.
“Looking back, I’m so glad I don’t have the regret of saying I never did something because I was scared,” Robinson said. “I learned if there’s something you feel like you want to pursue, even if you think you might hate it or love it, trying it means you don’t have that regret of ‘what if.’”
