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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1211 PM EDT Thu Aug 21 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

...National Weather Service Indianapolis Announces Retirement of
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Sam Lashley...

INDIANAPOLIS, IN  The National Weather Service (NWS) office in
Indianapolis is announcing the retirement of Warning Coordination
Meteorologist (WCM) Sam Lashley, effective August 31, 2025. Lashley
is stepping down after a distinguished 32-year career with the NWS,
with nearly 30 years dedicated to serving central and northern
Indiana communities. As the central Indiana WCM, Lashley has been
the primary liaison between the NWS and its partners, including
emergency management agencies, Indiana Department of Homeland
Security, health coalitions, media outlets, service organizations,
and the public. He has been instrumental in improving the
communication of severe and winter weather threats as well as
enhancing community preparedness throughout the region.

"Sam has been more than just a leader; his legacy here in Central
Indiana is built on the trust he has forged with our partners and
his role as a dedicated public safety advocate for the people we
serve," said NWS Indianapolis Acting Meteorologist-in-Charge, David
Beachler. "His expertise and passion have been invaluable to our
office and to the countless partners who rely on the National
Weather Service. He has tirelessly championed weather safety, and
his work has undoubtedly helped save lives. The National Weather
Service is incredibly grateful for his service and the profound
impact he has had on protecting the communities he has served.

Lashley`s NWS career began in 1993 as a meteorologist intern at the
NWS office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1995, he moved back to
Indiana as a meteorologist at the NWS Indianapolis office, where he
issued many life saving forecasts and warnings for central Indiana.
Lashley was promoted to a senior meteorologist position at the NWS
Northern Indiana Office in 1998 where he worked for 21 years. One of
his most memorable events during his tenure at the Northern Indiana
forecast office was a devastating F4 tornado that ripped through
northeast Indiana and into Van Wert, OH. He and his colleagues were
credited with saving countless lives after issuing a tornado warning
more than 35 minutes before the storm destroyed a sold-out movie
theater in Van Wert. The timely warning allowed for the successful
evacuation of the theater, and everyone inside survived. Lashley and
a colleague who helped issue the warning later received the Award
for an Exceptional Specific Prediction from the American
Meteorological Society (AMS).

In 2019, Lashley returned to central Indiana after being selected
for his dream job as the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the
Indianapolis forecast office. During his tenure in Indianapolis, he
played a key role in several major weather events, including the
2023 Sullivan Indiana and 2024 Winchester, IN EF3 tornadoes. Lashley
was responsible for evaluating the damage and determining the
strength of these tornadoes, as well as all tornadoes across central
Indiana since becoming the WCM. He also served as the NWS Indiana
state liaison, working closely with state level partners to
coordinate NWS services, including the annual severe and winter
weather preparedness weeks and drills for Indiana. Additionally, he
also led numerous training sessions for emergency managers and first
responders, taught weather spotting classes for weather observers,
and was a frequent speaker at community events, helping to educate
the public on severe weather safety. "It has been an honor to serve
the people of central Indiana and to work alongside such a dedicated
and talented team at the NWS," Lashley said. "I am proud of the
progress we have made in weather communication. preparedness, and
community resilience. I will miss the day-to-day challenges and the
incredible partners I have had the pleasure of working with, but I
am looking forward to this next chapter."

Following his retirement, Lashley is still narrowing his options but
is planning to remain engaged within the Indiana emergency
management and preparedness community. Sam can predict with 100%
accuracy that his future will feature several rounds of golf,
countless hours of fishing, and time with his family.

...About the National Weather Service Indianapolis...

The NWS Indianapolis office provides weather forecasts, warnings,
and other meteorological services for 39 counties in central
Indiana. The office is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and is dedicated to protecting life and
property and enhancing the national economy.

Contact:
David Beachler
Acting Meteorologist-in-Charge
317-856-0359
David.Beachler@noaa.gov

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