Kyle E. Fitch

Kyle E. Fitch is an Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) within the Department of Engineering Physics. He serves as the Atmospheric Science M.S. Curriculum Chair, directing coursework for 10 students and teaching 3-4 courses annually, including programming and physics refresher modules for new students.

• PhD in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah (2020)
• MS in Applied Physics, AFIT (2016)
• BS in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington (2006)

His research focuses on Arctic cloud microphysics, including riming processes, graupel formation in thin clouds, and aerosol impacts on precipitation. He integrates space weather studies (e.g., ionospheric electron density, solar flares) and machine learning for predictive modeling. His work addresses Department of Defense weather priorities through funded research.

Recent publications highlight collaborations on attention-based neural networks for lightning prediction, GNSS radio occultation for ionospheric modeling, and WRF-LES simulations of Arctic clouds. He presented at the 105th AMS Annual Meeting and QuIESCENT Arctic Workshop.

• Graduate School Team of the Year (2024)
• Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Professor (2022/2023)
• Advanced Technical Intelligence Award (2016)
• Distinguished Graduate, AFIT (2016)

As a Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer in the Air Force, he has deployed to Afghanistan and worked with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. His technical expertise includes VIIRS cloud base height validation, Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera analysis, and atmospheric model development.