Born September 2, 1952, in the village of Nivnoye, Surazh District, Bryansk Region.
1974: graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in Oceanology.
After his postgraduate training, he worked at the Russian R&D Centre for Hydrometeorology.
He started his career as a junior researcher, eventually becoming the centre's director.
2001-2010: deputy head of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.
March 15, 2010: appointed head of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.
PhD in Physics and Mathematics; fluent in English and German.
Married, with a son.