Pedro Di Nezio Appointed New Director of Argentina's National Meteorological Service

The Argentine government, under President Javier Milei, has officially appointed Pedro Nicolás Di Nezio as the new head of the National Meteorological Service (SMN). Di Nezio officially took the helm of the agency in July 2026, following the resignation of his predecessor, José Mauad. The appointment was formalized through Decree 714/2026, published in the Official Gazette.

Originally from Tres Arroyos in Buenos Aires province, Di Nezio is a distinguished professional with a background in atmospheric sciences. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA) and a doctorate in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. His academic and research career includes significant work on drought prediction and the El Niño phenomenon.

Di Nezio's extensive international experience includes roles at universities in Hawaii, Texas, and Colorado between 2013 and 2023. He has collaborated on numerous projects with leading institutions such as the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the International Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). His research has focused on applying climate science advancements to operational forecasting.

With approximately 20 years of experience in academia and international research centers, Di Nezio is an author of over sixty scientific publications. He has been a member of the International El Niño/La Niña Information Center coordinated by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center since 2011. His profile highlights a combination of scientific excellence, management capabilities, and a dedication to translating scientific knowledge into practical tools for decision-making and risk management, according to the Ministry of Defense.