By Staff of Lakeland International Airport
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re proud to spotlight Joyce Hirai—a Flight Director and Meteorologist at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center. 
In her role at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center, Joyce directs science and research missions—most notably into hurricanes. Her passion for weather began at a young age after a local meteorologist visited her elementary school, sparking a curiosity that led her to explore many facets of meteorology. That journey ultimately brought her to AOC. A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, she brings valuable operational experience from her time as a U.S. Air Force Weather Officer, experience she continues today as an Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer in the Air Force Reserve. Across both roles, she has logged more than 60 passes through the eye of hurricanes!
Here’s to the women like Joyce who lead, learn, and push science forward—one mission at a time.
