Richard Berg, 2025 Career Achievement Award

Dick Berg has been honored upon his retirement this year after 50 years of service at the Illinois State Geological Survey. When he was named State Geologist in 2015, he had worked under seven of the 13 ISGS directors who preceded him since the survey’s founding in 1851. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University, a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in soil geomorphology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Berg is a pioneer in 3D geological mapping and groundwater protection. As part of a governor’s task force, he helped develop the State Groundwater Protection Act of 1985. He has since played immense roles on the state, national, and international scene in advancing the essential role that geological mapping plays in addressing the needs of society.

Keith Schilling to complete his time as State Geologist of Iowa

In coming months, Dr. Keith Schilling will complete his time as State Geologist of Iowa and Director of the Iowa Geological Survey at the University of Iowa. He has held the position since 2017. He also is a research engineer in Hydroscience at U of Iowa, and adjunct faculty at U of Iowa and Iowa State. Keith has focused on Iowa water-related issues, including groundwater flow and quality, surface water and groundwater interaction, nonpoint source pollution, and watershed and floodplain processes. He holds an M.S. in water resources from Iowa State and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Iowa. He has performed superbly as AASG Water Chair. Well done, Keith!

The Texas Imperative

The Bureau of Economic Geology is the State Geological Survey of Texas. The Texas Imperative is comprised of a series of separate, project-based resource studies on water systems and drought, mineral resources, geothermal energy, and non-hydrocarbon gas. A majority of the research is applied and focuses on Texas issues, resources, and policy, ultimately increasing foundational and technical knowledge for the improved production and application of geoscience and the assessment of subsurface resources throughout the world.

https://youtu.be/4JgvVw0deC0?si=j_CnwEELz70G6diY

KGS expands research, lab space for core, critical materials analysis

Industry executives, state policymakers and University of Kansas leadership joined the Kansas Geological Survey Nov. 6 for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting of the newly renovated Watney CORELAB, which includes a 5,500-square-foot expansion of the existing laboratory space. Wow!

https://kgs.ku.edu/news/article/kgs-expands-research-laboratory-space-for-rock-core-critical-materials-analysis

Mankin Award to Nevada

The AASG Charles J. Mankin Award is given each year to the best recently-published, nominated state geological survey geological map, compilation, or report on regional, energy, or mineral resource geology. 

The award honors Charles Mankin (1932-2012), who as Director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey for forty years (1967-2007) was a tireless advocate for geologic mapping. 

The 2025 AASG Mankin Award has been presented to: 2025 - Jowitt, S.M., Henry, C.D., Crespo Mena, J., Lindsey, C.R., Darin, M.H., Saftner, D.M., Heintz, K.M., and Hershey, R.L., 2024, Lithium in Nevada - origins, extent, role in the energy transition, and implications for economic development and national security: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 40, 48 p.

Congratulations! https://pubs.nbmg.unr.edu/Lithium-in-Nevada-p/sp040.htm

Frye Award to Delaware

The AASG/GSA John C. Frye Memorial Award recognizes the best recently-published, nominated state geological survey or GSA publication in environmental geology.

John C. Frye joined USGS in 1938, he went to the Kansas Geological Survey in 1942, he was its Director from 1945 to 1954, he was Chief of the Illinois State Geological Survey until 1974, and he was GSA Executive Director until his retirement in 1982, shortly before his death. John was active in AASG and on national committees, and was influential in the growth of environmental geology.

The 2025 Frye Award was at GSA to Delaware authors, for their publication: 2025 - P.P. McLaughlin, J.L. Tomlinson, and A.K. Lawson, Delaware Geological Survey Bulletin 22, Aquifers and Groundwater Withdrawals, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware, 2023. Congratulations! 

https://udspace.udel.edu/items/bfe0f69f-9caa-4ad3-8169-d6b8d1fb30c2

https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/33550

John LaFave, State Geologist of Montana

John LaFave has been named interim Director of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) as successor to John Metesh. John has been part of the MBMG research staff since 1993; most recently, he served as the Research Division Chief. For many years, he served as the Program Manager for the Montana Ground Water Assessment Program. His research has focused on enhancing groundwater monitoring of Montana's principal aquifers and assessing regional groundwater quality. He has also served as an Associate Director of the Montana Water Center, a western-state representative to the National Groundwater Monitoring Network Board, and an Affiliate Faculty member of the Montana Tech Department of Geological Engineering. He holds an M.A. in geology from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in geology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Welcome, John!

Rodney Alan Combellick, 1951-2025

Rod Combellick passed away unexpectedly at the age of 74 due to a stroke on August 24th, 2025. After his youth in Littleton, Colorado, he completed a BS in geology at University of Washington in 1973, and an MS in geology at University of Southern California. He was employed by the Alaska state geological survey for 32 years, beginning in 1981. His specialties were Quaternary geology, engineering geology, as well as earthquake and tsunami hazards in Alaska. He became Deputy Director in 2002, and was acting State Geologist from 2003 to 2004, prior to his retirement in 2013. He was an accomplished classical organist, and also a pilot. He volunteered with AARP during retirement. He will be missed.