Dick Berg to complete his time as Illinois State Geologist

On April 30th, Dick Berg will retire as State Geologist of Illinois, a position he has held since 2014. Deputy Director Steve Brown will step in as Interim Director. Dick holds a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana State, a Master’s from Eastern Michigan, and a Ph.D. from Illinois in 1979. He joined Illinois State Geological Survey in 1974. He has received many honors, such as co-Recipient of the Frye Award in 1991, and numerous honors since, and he has served extensively in AASG, and GSA, for example. Dick served as AASG Editor from 2019 to 2021, for example, and as AASG Committee Chair. His contributions to fields related to geological mapping, and to addressing the needs of society, have been immense. He played major roles, for example, in the Great Lakes Geological Mapping Coalition. Dick, we thank you for your tremendous contributions so far, and we look forward to your ongoing influential and highly constructive roles.

2025 AASG Annual Meeting

The 117th AASG Annual Meeting will be hosted by Louisiana Geological Survey on May 31 - June 5, 2025 at Cook Hotel and Conference Center on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Scenic and informative field trips are being planned 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. AASG Members, Associates, Honorary Members, and guests, as well as representatives from partner agencies are welcome to register. See you in Baton Rouge!

https://www.lsu.edu/lgs/conferences/aasg2025/index.php

Importance of State Geological Surveys

This interview with Dr. Jon Kim and Dr. Ben Dejong from the Vermont State Geological Survey showcases the important work state geological surveys do, how it is done, & highlights an exciting upcoming session they are hosting for the Northeastern/Northcentral Geological Society of America Sectional Meeting this March 2025! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXoHABOfsBs

Charles G. Groat, 1940-2025

Chip Groat, who was born in New York State, passed away on March 14th. Charles G. Groat held degrees from Rochester, U Mass Amherst, and UT Austin. He was associate professor and acting director of the Bureau of Economic Geology between 1968 and 1978. He was State Geologist of Louisiana from 1978-1990, in 1992, and 2017-2021. He was executive director for AGI (1990-1992), and executive director (1992–1995) for the LSU Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources. In 1995 he moved to UT at El Paso. He was Director of the USGS from 1998 to 2005, and Campbell Medalist in 1998. In 2005, he returned to UT Austin as program and center director and Interim Dean. In 2012, he again moved to Louisiana to lead the Water Institute of the Gulf, and then from 2017-2021, he was acting Director of the Louisiana Geological Survey, before retiring from public service in 2021. He has been an AASG Honorary Member since 1993. He was AASG President in 1987–88. He will be missed. 

Bob Jordan, Delaware State Geologist

Robert R. Jordan, Delaware State Geologist from 1969 to 2003, recently passed away at the age of 87. Bob received an A.B. from Hunter College, and both M.A. and Ph.D. in geology from Bryn Mawr College. He joined the Delaware Geological Survey in 1958. Bob was AASG President in 1983-84, he received the Ian Campbell Award in 1996, and the AASG Distinguished Service Award in 2007. He will be missed.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, AASG Pick and Gavel Award 2025 recipient

The 2025 AASG Pick and Gavel Award has been presented to WV Senator Shelley Moore Capito by AASG President and West Virginia State Geologist Jessica Moore. The Senator was given a brooch made of silicified Lithostrotionella, a fossil coral that is the WV state gemstone. The award honors people who have made significant contributions to advancing the role of geoscience in public policy and who have supported AASG’s goals in government affairs. Thank-you for your service, Senator!

Lorena Moscardelli, State Geologist of Texas

Dr. Lorena Moscardelli has been named State Geologist of Texas, as successor to Scott Tinker who held the position from 2000 to 2024; Mark Shuster was acting State Geologist for several months. She joined the bureau in 2003 as a doctoral student, and was there for a decade before joining Equinor. She returned in 2021 to lead the STARR program on efficient production and profitability of energy and natural resources in Texas. Moscardelli holds a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Central University of Venezuela, a doctoral degree in geology from UT, and executive education at the Wharton. Welcome to AASG, Lorena.

Ned Mamula, USGS Director nominee

Ned Mamula has been nominated to be USGS Director. Recently, Ned has been Chief Geologist at GreenMet. He was with DOE as Critical Minerals Program Director from 2019-23, Cato Institute from 2015-19, the DOI Presidential Transition Team in 2016-17, CIA from 2009-15, USGS in Reston from 2003-09, Anadarko in Houston from 1997-03, DOE in Tulsa from 1993-97, and USGS in Reston as Resource Geologist from 1977-87. He is author of Groundbreaking! America’s New Quest for Mineral Independence. Dr. Mamula holds geology degrees from Slippery Rock, Penn State, and Texas A&M University, and a Master’s in Strategic and Resource Policy, from Johns Hopkins. Great to be working with you yet again, Ned!

Andrea Travnicek, DOI Assistant Secretary for Water and Science nominee

Dr. Andrea Travnicek (Trav-nick) has been nominated to be DOI Assistant Secretary for Water and Science. Since 2021, she has been Director of North Dakota Department of Water Resources, and before that, she was head of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. She previously held senior leadership positions with DOI in the late 2010s. Andrea holds a 2008 Ph.D. in Natural Resources Management/Communication from North Dakota State University, and she is an accomplished soccer player. Good to be working with you again, Andrea!

Doug Burgum, DOI Secretary

On January 31st, Doug Burgum was sworn in as the Secretary of the Interior. Secretary Burgum was first elected North Dakota Governor in 2016. Before that, the company he led was acquired by Microsoft, and he was in real estate. He was born in North Dakota, and he holds degrees from North Dakota State University and Stanford University. Best of luck, Secretary Burgum!

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!