Dr. Dennis Lettenmaier

Biography

Dennis Lettenmaier is a distinguished professor in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, attaining summa cum laude honors, followed by a Master of Science in Civil, Mechanical, and Environmental Engineering from George Washington University, and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington. Lettenmaier's research interests focus on hydrological modeling prediction, hydrologic remote sensing, hydrology-climate interactions, and water management. He has had a prominent academic career, starting at the University of Washington where he was a faculty member from 1976 to 2014 before joining UCLA's faculty. In addition to his academic roles, he served as a visiting scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey and was program manager for NASA's Land Surface Hydrology Program. Lettenmaier is an accomplished author, having contributed to over 350 journal articles, and is a member of several prestigious societies including the American Geophysical Union, the European Geosciences Union, and the American Meteorological Society, among others. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field, highlighting his status as a leading expert in hydrology.

Research Interests