Members of the Association of American State Geologists (AASG), June 2026

 

Outgoing AASG Executive

Many thanks to the 2025-2026 AASG Executive, who will complete their terms at the end of June. From left to right: Vice President - Nick Hayman of OK; Secretary - Harley Means of FL; Past-President - Jessica Moore of WV; Treasurer - Claudio Berti of ID; President - Matt Morgan of CO; President-Elect - Ruarri Day-Stirrat of OR

Nick Tew is the longest-serving State Geologist

Nick Tew of Alabama has served over two decades as State Geologist, having been appointed in 2002.  Those with over a decade of State Geologist service are Andrew Kozlowski of NY, Matt Joeckel of NE, and Gale Blackmer of PA. Those with more than five years of service include David Dockery of MS, Erin Campbell of AK & WY, Keith Schilling of IA, Tim Cowman of SD, Casey Hanell of WA, Claudio Berti of ID, Brian Savage of RI, Nicholas Hayman of OK, and Scott Howard of SC. Thirty-nine of 49 SGs were appointed in the 2020s. There is no SG in HI or PR. Appreciation and respect to all!

Frye Award to Montana

The AASG/GSA John C. Frye Memorial Award recognizes the best recently-published, nominated state geological survey or GSA publication in environmental geology, including water and hazards. 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. John was active in AASG and on national committees, and was influential in the growth of environmental geology.

The 2026 Frye Award will be presented at GSA to: Hanson, A.E.H., Bobst, A.L., Abdo, G., LaFave, J.I., and Sutherland, M., 2024, Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): An initial hydrogeologic screening for surface infiltration suitability in Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Report of Investigation 37, 26 p., 1 sheet. Congratulations! 

https://doi.org/10.59691/SXSP1714

https://mbmg.mtech.edu/mbmgcat/public/FileDirector.asp?fn=14044&

Mankin Award to Utah

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 the role of state geological surveys. The 2026 AASG Mankin Award has been presented to: Stephanie E. Mills, 2025, The Intersection of Framework Geology and Mineral Potential Assessment in the Gold Hill Mining District, Utah Geological Survey Special Study 175, 67 p. Congratulations!

https://doi.org/10.34191/SS-175

https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/special_studies/ss-175/ss-175.pdf

AASG President Matt Morgan presents Presidential Awards

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. At the 2026 AASG Annual Meeting in Virginia, AASG President Matt Morgan of CO therefore presented the AASG Presidential Award to Claudio Berti of ID, who performed superbly as AASG Treasurer, to Harley Means of FL who performed superbly as AASG Secretary, and to our good friend Mike Marketti of USGS, who has for many years done an incredibly good job on geological mapping programs. Thank-you for your service, Harley, Claudio, and Mike!

AASG Distinguished Service Award to John Yellich

At the 2026 AASG Annual Meeting in Virginia, AASG President Matt Morgan of CO presented the AASG Distinguished Service Award to John Yellich of MI. 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. John was State Geologist of Michigan from 2013-2024; AASG President, 2020-2021; President Elect, 2019-2020; and Vice President, 2018-2019. Thanks for your service, John!

AASG Distinguished Service Award to David Wunsch

At the 2026 AASG Annual Meeting in Virginia, AASG President Matt Morgan of CO presented the AASG Distinguished Service Award to David Wunsch of DE. 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. David was State Geologist of Delaware from 2011-2025, and State Geologist of New Hampshire from 2000-2010; AASG President, 2009-2010; President Elect, 2008-2009; Vice President, 2006-2008; Statistician, 2002-2004; and Annual Meeting Host, 2018. Thanks for your service, David!

New AASG Officers elected

At the 2026 AASG Annual Meeting in Virginia, AASG Members elected their 2026-2027 Officers who will take office on July 1st. The Past President will be Matt Morgan of CO, Ruarri Day-Stirrat of OR will move up from President Elect to President, and Nick Hayman of OK will transition from Vice President to President Elect. The new Vice President – pictured here – will be Simon Jowitt of NV. A new slate of junior Executive members will be Treasurer Matt Heller of VA and Secretary Dwain Veach of NC. New non-Executive Officers will be Scott Ausbrooks of AR as Editor, and Stephen VanRyswyck of MD as Statistician, while Scott Howard of SC is returning as Historian. Thanks to all for your willingness to serve and to lead!

Ruarri Day-Stirrat, 2026-2027 AASG President

On July 1st, Ruarri Day-Stirrat will commence his term as President of the Association of American State Geologists (AASG). He was appointed State Geologist of Oregon in 2022. Ruarri received degrees in geology from Cardiff and Newcastle University in the UK. He was with the Bureau of Economic Geology in Texas from 2006 until 2011, and was then with Shell Research in Houston. Dr. Day-Stirrat has expertise in clay minerals, rock properties, mineralogy, and diagenesis. We anticipate a highly successful year, Ruarri!

Matthew Johnson, State Geologist of Indiana

On August 1st, Matt Johnson will be acting State Geologist of Indiana and Director of the Indiana Geological and Water Survey. Matt has been Assistant Director for Information Services since 2021. According to the IGWS web site, Matt has worked as a professional cartographer for nearly two decades. He joined IGWS in 2012, and has overseen the production of both printed and interactive web maps, publications, collections, outreach, project archiving, and provided support to the IGWS scientist and researchers with data visualization and techniques. In 2003, Matt obtained a Bachelor of Science in Geography with a concentration in GIS from Appalachian State University. Welcome, Matt!

Todd Thompson to retire as Indiana State Geologist

Dr. Todd Thompson will retire as Indiana Geological and Water Survey Director and State Geologist at the end of July. Todd has held the position since 2015. His successor in an acting capacity will be IGWS assistant director for information services Matt Johnson. A graduate of Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, Todd moved to Indiana in 1981 and completed master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University – he was named Outstanding Associate Instructor at IU in 1984. In his PhD, Todd conducted highly influential research on lake-level and the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan, with much reliance on the vibracorer. He also has done much work on carbonate rocks. As a team-oriented former football player, Todd has for almost four decades been active and influential in leadership roles at the Survey and leaves a legacy of many innovations and improvements in the Survey. Well done, Todd!

2026 AASG Annual Meeting underway

The 118th annual meeting of the Association of American State Geologists (AASG) is being held from June 6th to 11th in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The meeting is featuring strong participation by USGS leadership, continued focus on Earth MRI, critical minerals, and geologic mapping, discussions on workforce development and ADA compliance, and excellent field trips hosted by Virginia and West Virginia. There is much work to be done!

Funding to state geological surveys continues positive trend

The 2026 Report of AASG Statistician Matt Heller of VA indicates that FY25 revenue to state geological surveys was $315.8M, down from $327.7M in FY24, mainly due to a change in CA, with total staff of 2082 FTE; current estimates are for a bounceback in FY26 to $334.7M and 2117 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. FY25 funding was over half state-derived, and 21.8% 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 has occurred, from $51M in FY21 to $68.8M 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%; the % for all staff is 41%. Publication sales have dwindled and stabilized as publications are offered for free online.