Forbes Tompkins manages the federal policy portfolio of Pew’s flood-prepared communities initiative, which works to reform flood policy to better prepare people and property for future risks. In this role, he oversees the development of innovative policies that can make our nation’s infrastructure more resilient to floods, reduce disaster damages, modernize the National Flood Insurance Program, and promote nature-based solutions. He also leads Pew’s call on behalf of mayors, state legislators, and governors for the federal government to prioritize flood resilience as the United States works to modernize its crumbling infrastructure.
Before joining Pew, Tompkins was a research associate at the World Resources Institute, where he analyzed the effects of rising sea level and heavy precipitation on communities, local response efforts, and the need for national policy to mitigate damage. He also held positions at the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development and on Capitol Hill as an environmental science and policy expert. He gained experience forecasting the weather on WCTV in Tallahassee, Florida.
Tompkins holds a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Florida State University and master’s degrees in meteorology from the Florida Institute of Technology and energy policy and climate from Johns Hopkins University.