Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Erin Campbell, State Geologist of Alaska
In August, Erin Campbell will commence duties as Director of the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. She served superbly as Wyoming State Geologist from 2017 to the present, and as AASG President in 2021-2022. Erin also served as a cabinet member for the governor of Wyoming, and member of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission. She spent a year as manager of the Energy and Mineral Resources division at the Wyoming Survey before being appointed state geologist. Before that, during 15 years at University of Wyoming, she taught undergraduate and graduate courses, directed the Geology Field Camp, and conducted research in structural geology and geomechanics. She also was a geologist with Chevron in Louisiana and California. Erin holds a B.S. degree in geology from Occidental College and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Wyoming, specializing in structural geology. Good luck with your next stint, Erin!
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Peter Mclaughlin, State Geologist of Delaware
Peter Mclaughlin will be Director of the Delaware Geological Survey on August 1, as successor to David Wunsch, who held the post since 2011. Peter has over 35 years of professional experience, and has been with DGS since 1999, after a decade with Exxon. His expertise is in stratigraphy and hydrogeology. He holds a 1984 B.S. in Geology from the University of Delaware and a 1989 Ph.D. in Geology from Louisiana State University. He also is Geology Professor at UD. Welcome Peter!
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Steve Brown is Illinois State Geologist
As of May 1, Steve Brown was named the Interim Director of the Illinois State Geological Survey, upon Dick Berg’s retirement. Recently, as a long-time member of ISGS staff, after service in other states, he has been working on the Lake Michigan shoreline and lake-bottom change. His expertise is in glacial geology. He received his A.B. from Albion College, and his M.S. from University of Wisconsin in Madison. Good work, Steve!
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
AASG/BOEM MOU
An updated version of the Memorandum of Understanding between AASG and the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) was ceremonially signed by AASG President, Jessica Moore, and BOEM Associate Director for Strategic Resources, Megan Carr, during the AASG annual meeting in Baton Rouge. This MOU maintains and strengthens the partnership between state geological surveys and BOEM by leveraging onshore expertise to help solve offshore problems. These include the identification and characterization of industrial and critical minerals, offshore energy and submarine cable placement, coastal zone hazards, and habitat mapping. Initial efforts to align State and Federal priorities on these important issues will focus on seamless onshore-offshore mapping, with a data call from BOEM to be released in the coming months.
The 2025 AASG Annual Meeting was enjoyable and successful!
State Geologist of Louisiana Clare Falcon hosted an enjoyable 2025 AASG Annual Meeting – our 117thg - on May 31 - June 5 in Baton Rouge. Scenic and informative field trips were held to Avery Island, home of Tabasco® Sauce, and to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Center for River Studies, to explore a large-scale model of the Lower Mississippi River and other engaging exhibits. The annual meeting was a success, capped off by a ceremonial MOU signing with BOEM for onshore-offshore mapping. Thanks to our friends in Louisiana for hosting!
Monday, June 23, 2025
AASG Distinguished Service Award to Jim Faulds
At the 2025 AASG Annual Meeting in Louisiana, AASG President Jessica Moore of WV presented the AASG Distinguished Service Award to Jim Faulds of NV. The DSA goes to particularly deserving, living, retired or retiring AASG people other than current officers who deserve to be recognized for the excellence of their efforts over the long term, in particular through AASG. Jim was State Geologist of NV from 2012-2024; AASG President, 2022-2023; President Elect, 2021-2022; Vice President, 1920-2021; and Annual Meeting Host, 2022. Recently, he co-led the Economic Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Geological Mapping in the United States of America from 1994 to 2019. Thanks for your service, Jim!
AASG Distinguished Service Award to Dick Berg
At the 2025 AASG Annual Meeting in Louisiana, AASG President Jessica Moore of WV presented the AASG Distinguished Service Award to Dick Berg of IL. The DSA goes to particularly deserving, living, retired or retiring AASG people other than current officers who deserve to be recognized for the excellence of their efforts over the long term, in particular through AASG. Dick was State Geologist of IL from 2014-2025. He served as AASG Editor from 2019 to 2021, and has been a Committee Chair. As an example of his diverse and highly admirable service, for many years, he has been a leader of the Great Lakes Geological Mapping Coalition. Recently, he co-led the Economic Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Geological Mapping in the United States of America from 1994 to 2019. Thanks for your service, Dick!
New AASG Officers elected
At the 2025 Annual Meeting in Louisiana, AASG Members elected their 2025-2026 Officers who will take office on July 1st. The Past President will be Jessica Moore of WV, and Matt Morgan of CO will move up from Vice President to President. Ruarri Day-Stirrat of OR – pictured here – will be President Elect, and Nick Hayman of OK will be Vice President. Returning junior Executive are Treasurer Claudio Berti of ID and Secretary Harley Means of FL. The non-Executive Officers will be Casey Hanell of WA returning as Editor, Matthew Heller of VA returning as Statistician, and Scott Howard of SC coming in as Historian. Thanks to all for your willingness to lead!
AASG Presidential Award to Matt Morgan
At the 2025 AASG Annual Meeting in Louisiana, AASG President Jessica Moore of WV presented the AASG Presidential Award to Matt Morgan, State Geologist of Colorado. It is AASG tradition for the outgoing President to have the option to present AASG Presidential Awards, to recognize extraordinary service to the objectives of AASG by one or more active member(s) of the AASG community during recent time, or by friends of AASG over the long term. Thank-you for your service, Matt!
Matt Morgan of Colorado, 2025-2026 AASG President
Matt Morgan, State Geologist and Director at the Colorado Geological Survey since 2022, will be the 2025-2026 AASG President on July 1st. Matt was AASG VP in 2024-2025, and 2023 Annual Meeting Host. Matt received his bachelor’s degree in Geology from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 1996. He received a Professional Degree in GIS and Remote Sensing from University of Denver in 1997, and a Master’s degree in geology from the Colorado School of Mines in 2006. He also studied advanced project management at the Stanford School of Business in 2015. He was with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources from 1993 to 1995. He joined the Colorado Survey in 1996, and became Deputy Director in 2015. Thanks for your leadership, Matt!
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Funding to state geological surveys continues positive trend
The 2025 Report of AASG Statistician Matt Heller of VA indicates that FY24 revenue to state geological surveys was $327.7M, up from $307.7M in FY23, with total staff of 2069 FTE; current estimates for FY25 are $327M and 2139 staff. Funding had peaked at $237M in FY12, due to the federal stimulus, and as federal funds fell by $45M, and total funding bottomed out at $216M in FY14, surveys raised diverse funds to achieve stability, although states vary. Adjusted for inflation, state surveys have been financially stable since the early 80s, although staffing has fallen in that time by a third. FY24 funding was half state-derived, and 23.5% federal, with the remainder in other categories. State funds are mostly recurring rather than non-recurring; whereas recurring state funds were over 90% of budgets in 1960, this fell to 40% in 2010 and has since stabilized. An upswing in federal funding is underway, from $51M in FY21 to an estimated $76M in FY25. However, several states have seen an even stronger surge in state funding. Percent female among science staff has risen steadily over a decade from 24% to 34%. Publication sales have dwindled and stabilized as publications are offered for free online. The final report may be slightly revised at the end of June. The survey predates very recent federal developments.
Hugo F. Thomas, State Geologist of Connecticut from 1974 to 1989
Hugo Thomas passed away on January 27, 2025 at age 89. He was an associate professor at the University of Connecticut prior to his appointment in 1974 as the Director of a renewed Connecticut Geological Survey which had previously been based at Wesleyan University. He worked closely with USGS, established the Natural Resource Center, and was a leader in GIS. He hosted the 1985 AASG annual meeting in Mystic, CT. Hugo received the USGS John Wesley Powell Award in 1988, and the citation noted his leadership in the use of a comprehensive water resources information system. He was elected an AASG Honorary Member in 1990. He will be missed.
Monday, May 05, 2025
Bradford James Avy, Former State Geologist of Oregon, 1955-2024
Brad Avy passed away in September 2024. He was State Geologist of Oregon from 2015 to 2021. Before that he was with the Washington Agriculture department in commodity inspection, a senior research analyst with the Washington House of Representatives, and also with Washington State Departments of Health, and also Ecology. He began his career in geotechnical field studies as an engineering geologist in Alaska, co-founded the Eureka Drilling Company, and worked as a hydrogeologist in Washington on toxic site cleanup investigations. His bachelor's degree in geology was from the University of Washington, and his master's in geology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He will be missed.
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