Bio

Dr. David Letson is a Professor of Marine Affairs and Economics at the University of Miami, where he has worked since 1995. He currently serves as Chair of the Division of Marine Affairs and Policy, where his research focuses on the economics of extreme weather and climate variations. He is interested in the value of predictions from the geosciences and in how those predictions are interpreted and used.

Dr. Letson currently serves as a member of the NOAA Science Advisory Board’s Oceans and Health Working Group, which convened to evaluate NOAA’s ocean health science efforts and their potential contributions to public safety and societal wellbeing. In March 2008, he testified before the Florida House of Representatives Citizens’ Windstorm Insurance and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophic Fund, Committee on Insurance, Jobs & Entrepreneurship Council, on behalf of Florida TaxWatch and at the invitation of Committee Chairman Donald Brown. He was asked what the economic effects on Florida’s economy would be if the hurricanes of the 2004 season were to strike again in 2008. To view a video of Dr. Letson’s testimony, visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/pressreleases/20080515-letson.html.

Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D., Economics, 1989.
Dissertation: Transferable Discharge Permits for Regional Water Quality. Supervisor: David Kendrick. Concentrations in natural resource and environmental economics, public finance and mathematical economics.

James Madison University
B.S., Economics, English, 1983.
Graduated Magna Cum Laude with distinction.