Robert Levy, Video Production Manager

Tell us about yourself and your work at NOS.

My name is Rob Levy and I’m the video production manager in NOAA’s video studio. At NOAA, we communicate the work of the agency to the public through written stories, podcasts, interactive online tools, and videos — which is where I come in. Video projects allow us to tell stories with images, sound, and graphics.

In my role, I work with staff across NOS and NOAA to help them conceptualize and deliver video projects. I am engaged in everything from pre-production to the final product, working closely with our video producers. Every day is different as we help our experts and scientists tell the stories of their work through a visual medium.

How did you get to where you are now in your career?

I started my career working in traditional television news in New York back when everything was done on video tape. In the 1990s, I saw the potential to have a career working in digital video and went on to hold different video-related positions at Verizon Communications, National Geographic, and Discovery Communications. Each position allowed me to build on my past experiences and gain the skillsets that help me today.

What NOAA project have you enjoyed working on the most?

I love working on live video projects. There is nothing more exciting than a live event that requires accuracy and precision since there is no second take! Our live streams support everything from remarks by agency leadership, webinars, and even historical events, like the 2023 annular solar eclipse. They all have unique technical requirements and production challenges which is part of the fun!

What about your work has felt especially exciting or rewarding?

I really enjoy working in science and helping to transform a complex concept into something that can be easily understood by the audience. I have also come to enjoy project management, which is an important skill when working in video production. It’s really satisfying to take a project from the first idea and follow it through to completion — inspiring and motivating people along the way, and seeing it all come together in the end.