Support for Intention to Nominate Suzette Kimball as USGS Director

US Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, has praised President Obama's intent to nominate Dr Suzette M. Kimball to serve as director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Interior’s chief science agency. Kimball has led the agency in an acting capacity since February 2013. If confirmed by the U. S. Senate, Kimball would lead the science agency of more than 8,000 scientists, technicians and support staff in more than 400 locations across the United States.

The USGS director also serves as science advisor to the Secretary of the Interior, overseeing activities of the Department’s Strategic Science Group and chairing the team of nine bureau science advisors.

Before assuming the USGS acting director position last year, Kimball served as the deputy director from 2010 to 2013; as the associate director for geology from 2008 to 2010; as the director of the eastern region from 2004 to 2008; and as the eastern regional executive for biology from 1998 to 2004. She was previously acting director from January to November 2009.
 
As deputy director, Kimball had executive leadership responsibility to execute scientific and administrative functions supported by USGS’s budget in excess of USD1.1 billion. Kimball also led USGS’s international activities and represented all North American geological surveys on international mapping endeavors. 
 
Kimball received a PhD in Environmental Sciences/Coastal & Oceanographic Processes from the University of Virginia (1983), an MSc in Geology/Geophysics from Ball State University (1981), and a BA from the College of William and Mary.
 
Kimball has authored more than 75 technical publications on issues dealing with coastal ecosystem science, coastal zone management and policy, and natural resource exploration, evaluation and management. She has delivered more than 50 invited professional presentations and 70 conference presentations. Her numerous professional appointments and offices include serving on the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, Roundtable on Environmental Health, Research and Medicine; NAS Roundtable on Science & Technology for Sustainability and U.S. National Committee for Geosciences of the NAS Board on International Scientific Organisations.

Kimball has twice received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive Leadership and the Secretary's Gold Award for Executive Leadership.