Planning for the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 is well underway, with more than 25 nations now committed to conducting internationally coordinated activities. Within this context, the IPY will include studies on a) assessing large-scale environmental and social change and variability in the polar regions; b) exploring new scientific frontiers from the molecular to the planetary scale; c) designing and implementing multidisciplinary polar observing networks; and d) advancing our understanding of polar - global teleconnections on all scales, and of the processes controlling these interactions. This presentation will identify main US themes for the IPY and detail how atmospheric scientists can become more involved in IPY activities.