Ruben Behnke
Mesonet Manager
rbehnke2@unl.edu
Ruben Behnke has been the Mesonet Manager since 2023 after spending over five years with the South Dakota Mesonet. Ruben is a climatologist who studied Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and earned a Ph.D. in Forestry and Conservation Science from the University of Montana.
Chinthaka Weerasekara
Lead Mesonet Technician
cweerasekara2@unl.edu
Chinthaka Weerasekara is the Lead Mesonet Technician and oversees the operation and expansion of the Nebraska Mesonet. He works closely with landowners, university personnel, and external partners to support agriculture, research, emergency response, and climate monitoring across Nebraska. He earned a Ph.D. in Agronomy with a specialization in micrometeorology from Kansas State University.
Derek Johnson
Mesonet Technician
djohnson188@unl.edu
Derek Johnson is a Mesonet Technician, and has been with Nebraska Mesonet since 2024.
Tad Rosburg
Mesonet Technician
trosburg2@unl.edu
Tad Rosburg is a Mesonet Technician, and has been with Nebraska Mesonet since 2025.
Join the Mesonet Team
If you've got a data-driven, analytical mind and an interest in how weather affects Nebraskans, you might be a great fit for the Nebraska Mesonet team.
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