Mark Myers

Mark D. Myers

Myers as Director of USGS, 2006
Born c. 1955 (age 60–61)
Residence Alaska, United States
Nationality American
Fields Geology
Institutions U.S. Geological Survey
Alma mater University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Alaska Fairbanks
14th Director of the United States Geological Survey
In office
2006 (2006) – 2009 (2009)
Preceded by Charles G. Groat
Succeeded by Marcia McNutt
For the American jazz writer, see Marc Myers.

Mark D. Myers is an American geologist who served as the fourteenth Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). He was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 3, 2006, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and sworn in September 26, 2006.[1] Dr. Myers replaced prior director Charles G. Groat, who had resigned effective June 17, 2005.

Anticipating the inauguration of Barack Obama as U.S. president, Myers resigned as USGS director on January 8, 2009, "as is customary during a change in Administrations."[2] On January 21, 2009, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin appointed Myers as coordinator for the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, responsible to lead efforts to expedite state review and permitting for a proposed natural gas pipeline intended to transport natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to markets in the contiguous 48 states of the U.S.[3][4]

Education and career

Myers grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin[5] where he graduated from high school. He earned degrees in geology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, receiving his B.S. in 1977 and his M.S. in 1981.[6]

After receiving his M.S., Myers worked for ARCO in Louisiana where he met his wife, Alice.[5] After two years in Louisiana he was transferred to Alaska. In 1987, he entered the Ph.D. program in geology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In 1990, he joined the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas as a Petroleum Geologist, where he worked for eight years. In 1994, he completed his dissertation and received his Ph.D. in geology, specializing in sedimentology, clastic depositional environments, surface and subsurface sequence analysis, and sandstone petrography. He then served as Senior Staff Geologist for Exploration at ARCO Alaska Inc. and Phillips Alaska Inc. In 2000 Myers was chosen as Alaska State Geologist and Director of Alaska's Division of Oil and Gas, which included the Alaska Geological and Geophysical Survey.[6][7]

Myers was one of six officials in the Alaska Department of Natural Resources who resigned on October 27, 2005, in response to Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski's dismissal of the department's commissioner and the position the state has taken in negotiations with oil companies regarding a $20 billion natural gas pipeline to the North Slope.[8][9][10][11][12]

On September 3, 2010, Chancellor Rogers of the University of Alaska Fairbanks announced that Myers had accepted the position of UAF Vice Chancellor for research, slated to begin on January 24, 2011.[13]

Myers is a past president and board member of the Alaska Geological Society; a certified professional geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists; a certified petroleum geologist with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists; and a licensed geologist with the State of Alaska.[14] He served as a pilot and intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1977 until 2003, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.[14][5]

Myers is slated to be Bill Walker's DNR Commissioner.[15]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "Mark Myers Confirmed as Director of U.S. Geological Survey" GEA Update. October 18, 2006, p.7.
  2. ↑ Myers, Mark D. (2009-01-08). "A fond farewell" (letter to USGS employees). Reproduced at Arizona Geology: blog of the State Geologist of Arizona.
  3. ↑ "Myers has another state job". Anchorage Daily News. 2009-01-23.
  4. ↑ "Mark Myers Appointment: Coordinator for Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA)". Alaska Department Natural Resources. 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  5. 1 2 3 "New Director - New Direction?". GEO ExPro profile. December 2007.
  6. 1 2 "Distinguished Alumni Awards for 2007: Mark D. Myers" (PDF). Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin–Madison.
  7. ↑ "Mark D. Myers: Politics, pipelines and permafrost". Geotimes. American Geological Institute. November 2006.
  8. ↑ "Mark Myers raises concerns on gas line". The Associated Press. 2005-11-06.
  9. ↑ "Bush Plans to Nominate Mark Myers as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey". National Council for Science and the Environment. 2006.
  10. ↑ Merris, Emma (2006-05-18)."Who Is Mark Myers?" Nature 441(7091): p.266 (electronic version for subscribers only)
  11. ↑ Staff (2006-05-19) "Inside Government" Science 312(5776)
  12. ↑ Reuters News
  13. ↑ "Rogers names Myers new research vice chancellor". University of Alaska Fairbanks. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  14. 1 2 "Mark Myers bio". U.S. Geological Survey.
  15. ↑ "Alaska Gov.-elect Walker announces first Cabinet picks - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Alaska News". Retrieved 29 April 2015.



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