Director of the U.S. Geological Survey

Last updated
Director of the U.S. Geological Survey
Sarah J Ryker headshot.jpg
Incumbent
Sarah J Ryker
since January 20, 2025
U.S. Geological Survey
Reports toAssistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior
Appointer President of the United States
with advice and consent of the Senate [1]

The director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for direction and leadership of the agency. [2] Within the director's office are the deputy director, who assists the director in coordination of the USGS; and eight associate directors, each overseeing a particular program, who report to the director. [3] The director is typically sworn in by the Secretary of the Interior—for example, Bruce Babbitt swore in Charles Groat, [4] and Deb Haaland swore in David Applegate. [5]

Contents

History

The U.S. Geological Survey was established in 1879 by an act of Congress. Clarence King was appointed as the first director. [6] King was picked because he was the leader of a USGS predecessor survey. [7]

Later, in 2018, during the confirmation of James Reilly at a hearing with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the committee emphasized the fact that the appointee would have to protect scientific integrity within the USGS. This was a new theme, stemming from concerns over other people nominated to positions by President Trump. [8] It was also noted that Trump had taken more than a year to announce Reilley's nomination, which was noted by TheWashington Post as a departure from the usual time a president would take to nominate someone for the role. [9]

List of USGS directors

The following persons have led the U.S. Geological Survey since 1879 as director: [10]

No.PortraitDirectorTerm startTerm endNotes
1 Clarence King.jpg Clarence King 18791881
2 John Wesley Powell.jpg John Wesley Powell 18811894
3 Charles Walcott.jpg Charles Doolittle Walcott 18941907
4 George Otis Smith 05.jpg George Otis Smith 19071930
5 Walter Curran Mendenhall 05.jpg Walter Curran Mendenhall 19301943
6 William Embry Wrather.jpg William Embry Wrather 19431956
7 Thomas Brennan Nolan.jpg Thomas Brennan Nolan 19561965
8 William Thomas Pecora.jpg William Thomas Pecora 19651971
9 Vincent Ellis McKelvey.jpg Vincent Ellis McKelvey 19711978
10 Henry William Menard.jpg Henry William Menard 19781981
11 Dallas Lynn Peck.jpg Dallas Lynn Peck 19811993
12 Gordon Eaton USGS.png Gordon P. Eaton March 14, 1994October 1, 1997 [11] [12]
acting Thomas Casadevall.jpg Thomas CasadevallOctober 2, 1997November 12, 1998 [13]
13 Charles Groat USGS.jpg Charles G. Groat November 13, 1998June 17, 2005 [14] [15]
acting P. Patrick Leahy at Hurricane Katrina briefing.JPG P. Patrick LeahyJune 18, 2005September 25, 2006 [16]
14 Myers Mark geologist 2006.jpg Mark Myers September 26, 2006January 8, 2009 [17] [18]
acting Suzette Kimball of the USGS.jpg Suzette Kimball January 9, 2009November 4, 2009
15 Marcia McNutt-USGS portrait.jpg Marcia McNutt November 5, 2009February 15, 2013 [19] [20]
acting Suzette Kimball of the USGS.jpg Suzette Kimball February 16, 2013January 7, 2014 [21] [22]
16January 8, 2014January 20, 2017
acting William Werkheiser official portrait.jpg William WerkheiserJanuary 20, 2017May 13, 2018 [23]
17 Jim Reilly official photo.jpg James F. Reilly May 14, 2018January 20, 2021 [24]
acting Dave Applegate, USGS Director.jpg David Applegate January 20, 2021August 14, 2022 [25]
18August 15, 2022January 20, 2025
acting Sarah J Ryker headshot.jpg Sarah J. RykerJanuary 20, 2025Present [26]

References

  1. ↑ "Authorizations". U.S. Geological Survey . Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Office of the Director". U.S. Geological Survey . Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Office of the Director". Departmental Manual 120 DM 2. U.S. Department of the Interior. August 25, 2021. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  4. ↑ Showstack, Randy (November 3, 1998). "U.S. Senate confirms new USGS director". Eos . 79 (44): 534. Bibcode:1998EOSTr..79R.534S. doi:10.1029/EO079i044p00534-03.
  5. ↑ Cartier, Kimberly M. S. (2022-08-26). "New USGS Director: Partnerships Are Our Superpower". Eos . 103. doi: 10.1029/2022eo220409 . Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  6. ↑ Rabbitt, Mary C. (1986). "A Brief History of the U.S. Geological Survey". U.S. Geological Survey General Information Product.
  7. ↑ Wallace, Robert E.; Scott, Stanley (1996). "Earthquakes, minerals, and me with the USGS, 1942-1995" . U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-260. Open-File Report: 151. Bibcode:1996usgs.rept..151W. doi:10.3133/ofr96260.
  8. ↑ Diep, Francie (March 8, 2018). "The USGS Director's Newest Job Description: Maintaining 'Scientific Integrity'". Pacific Standard . Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  9. ↑ Grandoni, Dino (July 17, 2020). "The Energy 202: Trump nominates USGS head. It took him more than a year". Analysis. The Washington Post . Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Past Directors". USGS.
  11. ↑ "1994 IPA Country Report". International Permafrost Association. 1994.
  12. ↑ "Volcano Watch — Director of the USGS announces retirement". United States Geological Survey. September 19, 1997.
  13. ↑ Showstack, Randy (November 3, 1998). "U.S. Senate confirms new USGS director" . Eos . 79 (44): 534. Bibcode:1998EOSTr..79R.534S. doi:10.1029/EO079i044p00534-03.
  14. ↑ "USGS Director Charles Groat Sworn in at Reston, Va. Ceremony". USGS. November 12, 1998. Archived from the original on 2006-09-28.
  15. ↑ Lacy, Jim (July 14, 2005). "Charles Groat resigns as Director of U.S. Geological Survey". Wisconsin Geospatial News.
  16. ↑ "Secretary Norton Names Pat Leahy Acting Director of the U.S. Geological Survey". Department of the Interior. June 13, 2005.
  17. ↑ "Mark Myers Confirmed as Director of U.S. Geological Survey" (PDF). GEA Update. Geothermal Energy Association. October 18, 2006. p. 7.
  18. ↑ "USGS director Mark Myers resigns". Arizona Geology. Arizona Geological Survey. January 8, 2009.
  19. ↑ Showstack, Randy (October 27, 2009). "In Brief: McNutt confirmed to head U.S. Geological Survey" . Eos . 90 (43): 387. Bibcode:2009EOSTr..90Q.387S. doi:10.1029/2009EO430003.
  20. ↑ Gramling, Carolyn (January 15, 2013). "Marcia McNutt Leaving as USGS Director" . Science . doi:10.1126/article.26542.
  21. ↑ Showtack, Randy (January 21, 2014). "Kimball to Be Nominated to Lead USGS" . Eos . 95 (3): 27. Bibcode:2014EOSTr..95...27S. doi:10.1002/2014EO030004.
  22. ↑ "Suzette Kimball sworn in as USGS director". Virginia Institute of Marine Science . January 20, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Trump administration still with glaring omissions to S&T roster". Medium . October 25, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Geoscientist/Astronaut/Explorer Will Lead Interior Agency". United States Geological Survey. May 14, 2018.
  25. ↑ "David Applegate was sworn in as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey". United States Geological Survey. August 15, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Sarah J. Ryker, Ph.D." 18 June 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
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