Director of the U.S. Geological Survey
Director of the U.S. Geological Survey | |
---|---|
![]() Incumbent since August 15, 2022David Applegate | |
U.S. Geological Survey | |
Reports to | Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior |
Appointer | President 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
No. | Image | Name | Term[10] |
---|---|---|---|
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 | 1994–1997 |
13 | ![]() | Charles G. Groat | 1998–2005 |
14 | ![]() | Mark Myers | 2006–2009 |
15 | ![]() | Marcia K. McNutt | 2009–2013 |
16 | ![]() | Suzette Kimball | 2015–2017 |
17 | ![]() | Jim Reilly | 2018–2021 |
18 | ![]() | David Applegate | 2022–present |
References
- ^ "Authorizations". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "Office of the Director". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ "Office of the Director". Departmental Manual 120 DM 2. U.S. Department of the Interior. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ Showstack, Randy (1998-11-03). "U.S. Senate confirms new USGS director". Eos. 79 (44): 534. doi:10.1029/EO079i044p00534-03.
- ^ Cartier, Kimberly M. S. (2022-08-26). "New USGS Director: Partnerships Are Our Superpower". Eos. 103. doi:10.1029/2022eo220409. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Rabbitt, Mary C. (1986). "A Brief History of the U.S. Geological Survey". U.S. Geological Survey General Information Product.
- ^ Wallace, Robert E.; Scott, Stanley (1996). "Earthquakes, minerals, and me with the USGS, 1942-1995". U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-260. doi:10.3133/ofr96260.
- ^ Diep, Francie (2018-03-08). "The USGS Director's Newest Job Description: Maintaining 'Scientific Integrity'". Pacific Standard. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ Grandoni, Dino (2020-07-17). "The Energy 202: Trump nominates USGS head. It took him more than a year". Analysis. The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
- ^ "Past Directors". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2024-03-10.