Director of the U.S. Geological Survey

Director of the U.S. Geological Survey
Incumbent
Sarah J Ryker
since January 20, 2025
U.S. Geological Survey
Reports toAssistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior
AppointerPresident of the United States
with advice and consent of the Senate[1]

The director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for direction and leadership of the agency.[2] Within the director's office are the deputy director, who assists the director in coordination of the USGS; and eight associate directors, each overseeing a particular program, who report to the director.[3] The director is typically sworn in by the Secretary of the Interior—for example, Bruce Babbitt swore in Charles Groat,[4] and Deb Haaland swore in David Applegate.[5]

History

The U.S. Geological Survey was established in 1879 by an act of Congress. Clarence King was appointed as the first director.[6] King was picked because he was the leader of a USGS predecessor survey.[7]

Later, in 2018, during the confirmation of James Reilly at a hearing with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the committee emphasized the fact that the appointee would have to protect scientific integrity within the USGS. This was a new theme, stemming from concerns over other people nominated to positions by President Trump.[8] It was also noted that Trump had taken more than a year to announce Reilley's nomination, which was noted by The Washington Post as a departure from the usual time a president would take to nominate someone for the role.[9]

List of USGS directors

The following persons have led the U.S. Geological Survey since 1879 as director:[10]

No. Portrait Director Term start Term end Notes
1 Clarence King 1879 1881
2 John Wesley Powell 1881 1894
3 Charles Doolittle Walcott 1894 1907
4 George Otis Smith 1907 1930
5 Walter Curran Mendenhall 1930 1943
6 William Embry Wrather 1943 1956
7 Thomas Brennan Nolan 1956 1965
8 William Thomas Pecora 1965 1971
9 Vincent Ellis McKelvey 1971 1978
10 Henry William Menard 1978 1981
11 Dallas Lynn Peck 1981 1993
12 Gordon P. Eaton March 14, 1994 October 1, 1997 [11][12]
acting Thomas Casadevall October 2, 1997 November 12, 1998 [13]
13 Charles G. Groat November 13, 1998 June 17, 2005 [14][15]
acting P. Patrick Leahy June 18, 2005 September 25, 2006 [16]
14 Mark Myers September 26, 2006 January 8, 2009 [17][18]
acting Suzette Kimball January 9, 2009 November 4, 2009
15 Marcia McNutt November 5, 2009 February 15, 2013 [19][20]
acting Suzette Kimball February 16, 2013 January 7, 2014 [21][22]
16 January 8, 2014 January 20, 2017
acting William Werkheiser January 20, 2017 May 13, 2018 [23]
17 James F. Reilly May 14, 2018 January 20, 2021 [24]
acting David Applegate January 20, 2021 August 14, 2022 [25]
18 August 15, 2022 January 20, 2025
acting Sarah J. Ryker January 20, 2025 Present [26]

References

  1. ^ "Authorizations". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Office of the Director". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Office of the Director". Departmental Manual 120 DM 2. U.S. Department of the Interior. August 25, 2021. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  4. ^ Showstack, Randy (November 3, 1998). "U.S. Senate confirms new USGS director". Eos. 79 (44): 534. Bibcode:1998EOSTr..79R.534S. doi:10.1029/EO079i044p00534-03.
  5. ^ Cartier, Kimberly M. S. (2022-08-26). "New USGS Director: Partnerships Are Our Superpower". Eos. 103. doi:10.1029/2022eo220409. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Rabbitt, Mary C. (1986). "A Brief History of the U.S. Geological Survey". U.S. Geological Survey General Information Product.
  7. ^ Wallace, Robert E.; Scott, Stanley (1996). "Earthquakes, minerals, and me with the USGS, 1942-1995". U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-260. Open-File Report: 151. Bibcode:1996usgs.rept..151W. doi:10.3133/ofr96260.
  8. ^ Diep, Francie (March 8, 2018). "The USGS Director's Newest Job Description: Maintaining 'Scientific Integrity'". Pacific Standard. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Grandoni, Dino (July 17, 2020). "The Energy 202: Trump nominates USGS head. It took him more than a year". Analysis. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Past Directors". USGS.
  11. ^ "1994 IPA Country Report". International Permafrost Association. 1994.
  12. ^ "Volcano Watch — Director of the USGS announces retirement". United States Geological Survey. September 19, 1997.
  13. ^ Showstack, Randy (November 3, 1998). "U.S. Senate confirms new USGS director". Eos. 79 (44): 534. Bibcode:1998EOSTr..79R.534S. doi:10.1029/EO079i044p00534-03.
  14. ^ "USGS Director Charles Groat Sworn in at Reston, Va. Ceremony". USGS. November 12, 1998. Archived from the original on 2006-09-28.
  15. ^ Lacy, Jim (July 14, 2005). "Charles Groat resigns as Director of U.S. Geological Survey". Wisconsin Geospatial News.
  16. ^ "Secretary Norton Names Pat Leahy Acting Director of the U.S. Geological Survey". Department of the Interior. June 13, 2005.
  17. ^ "Mark Myers Confirmed as Director of U.S. Geological Survey" (PDF). GEA Update. Geothermal Energy Association. October 18, 2006. p. 7.
  18. ^ "USGS director Mark Myers resigns". Arizona Geology. Arizona Geological Survey. January 8, 2009.
  19. ^ Showstack, Randy (October 27, 2009). "In Brief: McNutt confirmed to head U.S. Geological Survey". Eos. 90 (43): 387. Bibcode:2009EOSTr..90Q.387S. doi:10.1029/2009EO430003.
  20. ^ Gramling, Carolyn (January 15, 2013). "Marcia McNutt Leaving as USGS Director". Science. doi:10.1126/article.26542.
  21. ^ Showtack, Randy (January 21, 2014). "Kimball to Be Nominated to Lead USGS". Eos. 95 (3): 27. Bibcode:2014EOSTr..95...27S. doi:10.1002/2014EO030004.
  22. ^ "Suzette Kimball sworn in as USGS director". Virginia Institute of Marine Science. January 20, 2016.
  23. ^ "Trump administration still with glaring omissions to S&T roster". Medium. October 25, 2017.
  24. ^ "Geoscientist/Astronaut/Explorer Will Lead Interior Agency". United States Geological Survey. May 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "David Applegate was sworn in as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey". United States Geological Survey. August 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "Sarah J. Ryker, Ph.D." 18 June 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
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