Bill Keach to complete his time as Utah State Geologist

In April 2025, Bill Keach will retire as Director of the Utah Geological Survey, a position he has held since 2019. He holds a B.S. in Geology from BYU and an M.S. in geophysics from Cornell. He worked in the Gulf of Mexico offshore and with California Division of Oil and Gas. He worked on 3D visualization for Landmark Graphics, now Halliburton, for 17 years. In 2006, he returned to Utah to take on roles in seismic interpretation and reservoir modeling at the Energy and Geoscience Institute at the University of Utah and BYU. Thanks for your tremendous contributions so far, Bill!

Dwain Veach is State Geologist of North Carolina

Dwain Veach has been appointed State Geologist at the North Carolina Geological Survey, where he has been employed for five years. Previously, he was with Devon Energy and Chaparral Energy in Oklahoma. He has a Masters degree in geology from University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor’s in geology and physics from Southern Utah University. He has specialized in organic chemistry and sedimentary basin characterization. Welcome Dwain!

Simon Jowitt, State Geologist of Nevada

On February 1st, 2025, Dr. Simon Jowitt was appointed State Geologist of Nevada, as successor to Jim Faulds, and Bill Hammond who had been interim Director. He has been with the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology since 2023. He has applied his expertise in geochemistry to mineral systems, igneous petrology, and tectonics. He has undertaken extensive research on mineral economics and supply. Simon also studies the environmental impact of mining and the potential uses of mining and other wastes for metal production and CO2 sequestration. He was awarded the SEG Waldemar Lindgren Award in 2014. He has degrees from the University of Edinburgh, the Camborne School of Mines, and the University of Leicester, all in the UK. For eight years, he was at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia before seven years on the faculty University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Welcome, Simon!