Mark D. Myers | |
|---|---|
 Myers as Director of USGS, 2006 | |
| Commissioner of theU.S. Arctic Research Commission | |
| Assumed office September 24, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden Donald Trump |
| Commissioner of theAlaska Department of Natural Resources | |
| In office December 4, 2014 – March 1, 2016 | |
| Governor | Bill Walker |
| Preceded by | Joseph Balash |
| Succeeded by | Andy Mack |
| 14th Director of the United States Geological Survey | |
| In office September 26, 2006 (2006-09-26) – January 8, 2009 (2009-01-08) | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Charles G. Groat |
| Succeeded by | Marcia McNutt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1955 (age 70–71) |
| Nationality | American |
| Residence(s) | Alaska,United States |
| Scientific career | |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison University of Alaska Fairbanks |
| Fields | Geology |
| Institutions |
|
| Thesis | Evolution of late Cretaceous-early Tertiary depositional sequences in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin, Canada (1994) |
| Doctoral advisor | R. Keith Crowder |
Mark D. Myers is an Americangeologist who currently serves as a commissioner for theU.S. Arctic Research Commission. He also served as the 14th director of theU.S. Geological Survey (USGS). He was nominated by PresidentGeorge W. Bush on May 3, 2006, confirmed by theU.S. Senate, and sworn in September 26, 2006.[1] Dr. Myers replaced prior directorCharles G. Groat, who had resigned effective June 17, 2005.
Anticipating the inauguration ofBarack 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 GovernorSarah Palin appointed Myers as coordinator for theAlaska 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 thecontiguous 48 states of the U.S.[3][4]
Myers grew up inLa Crosse, Wisconsin[5] where he graduated from high school. He earned degrees ingeology from theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, receiving hisB.S. in 1977 and hisM.S. in 1981.[6][7] He served as a pilot and intelligence officer in theU.S. Air Force Reserve from 1977 until 2003, retiring as aLt. Colonel.[8][5]
After receiving his M.S., Myers worked forARCO inLouisiana 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 theUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks. In 1990, he joined theAlaska Division of Oil and Gas as aPetroleum Geologist, where he worked for eight years. In 1994, he completed his dissertation and received hisPh.D. in geology, specializing insedimentology, clasticdepositional environments, surface and subsurface sequence analysis, and sandstonepetrography. He then served as Senior Staff Geologist for Exploration at ARCO Alaska Inc. andPhillips 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][9]
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.[10][11][12][13]
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.[14]
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 theAmerican Association of Petroleum Geologists; and a licensed geologist with the State of Alaska.[8]
In 2014, Myers was appointed byBill Walker to be the Alaskan DNR Commissioner.[15] He stepped down from the position on March 1, 2016.
In 2021, PresidentJoe Biden appointed him to theU.S. Arctic Research Commission.[16]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 14th Director of theUnited States Geological Survey 2006–2009 | Succeeded by |
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