--

has been named WHNT News 19's new chief meteorologist, replacing Dan Satterfield,

announced this morning.

Satterfield resigned Friday to explore new opportunities after a long career at WHNT.

Simpson is currently the morning meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham and will begin his job at WHNT in early January. Ben Smith will be the station's Chief Meteorologist during the interim.

"Jason is an exceptional broadcast meteorologist and has outstanding severe weather tracking skills as evidenced by his coverage of the deadly tornadoes that hit our state on April 27," said Stan Pylant, WHNT News 19's president and general Manager. "We had a tremendous amount of interest from a lot of qualified candidates from all over the country. In the end, the right person was right here in our own backyard. I couldn't be more pleased to announce Jason as our next Chief Meteorologist."

Jason was awarded the American Meteorological Society's Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal for excellence in television weather in 2007. Simpson graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in broadcast meteorology. He began his career while still in college as an intern in the weather office at ABC 33/40 under longtime Chief Meteorologist James Spann. In 2004, Simpson became the morning meteorologist at ABC 33/40. Before that, Simpson was the Chief Meteorologist at WTOK-TV in Meridian, Miss.

"Jason is a north Alabama native," said Denise Vickers, WHNT's station manager/news director. "He cares about the people and places in the Tennessee Valley. And, he understands the importance of providing weather information for where and how people live.

"He is going to do a tremendous job leading our talented team of meteorologists."

Simpson has covered many weather events from hurricanes to tornadoes and blizzards. He was on the air April 27 and saw firsthand the magnitude of the destruction. After the storm he took action, volunteering in devastated areas to help people rebuild and where he couldn't go, sent supplies.

A staunch advocate for science education in the classroom, Simpson has been instrumental in building curriculum for elementary and middle school science classes through the "ABC's of Weather" series that he produced for the Alabama Math Science and Technology Initiative.

"My days in Birmingham have given me some great memories, but we are looking forward to settling our family in Huntsville," Simpson said. "I have always respected WHNT.

"I knew if I ever had the chance, I would take the opportunity to work there. It is an honor for me to be chosen as WHNT News 19's new chief meteorologist. I am resolved to meet and exceed the high expectations that people in the Tennessee Valley expect from this station."

Last year, Simpson married Lacey, whose parents live in Huntsville. Their first child, Walt, was born recently on October 11.