David Applegate (geologist)

{{BLP sources|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = David Applegate | image = Dave Applegate, USGS Director.jpg | caption = Applegate in 2022 | education = Yale University (BS)<br>Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD) | office = 18th Director of the United States Geological Survey | term_start = August 15, 2022 | term_end = January 20, 2025 | successor = Ned Mamula | president = Joe Biden | predecessor = James F. Reilly | status1 = Acting | term_start1 = January 20, 2021 | term_end1 = August 15, 2022 | module = {{Infobox scientist | embed=yes | fields = Geology | workplaces = {{plainlist| * Johns Hopkins University * United States Geological Survey * University of Utah }} | alma_mater = | thesis_title = The unroofing history of the funeral mountains metamorphic core complex, California | thesis_url = http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/12072 | thesis_year = 1994 | doctoral_advisor = Kip Hodges | academic_advisors = | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = | influences = | influenced = | awards = }} }}

'''David Applegate''' is an American scientist who served as the 18th director of the United States Geological Survey from 2022 to 2025. He is also a professor at the University of Utah.

== Education == Applegate earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Yale University and a PhD in geology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Applegate, Ph.D. {{!}} U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/dave-applegate |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=www.usgs.gov}}</ref>

== Career == Applegate is an adjunct full professor at the University of Utah. From 2004 to 2011, he served as senior science advisor for earthquake and geologic hazards at the United States Geological Survey. Since May 2011, he has served as associate director of the USGS for natural hazards.

==USGS Nomination== On January 20, 2021, Applegate began serving as acting director of the USGS.<ref name=2022-08-15 /> On March 8, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Applegate to serve as director of the agency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2022 |title=President Biden Announces Key Nominees |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/08/president-biden-announces-key-nominees-4/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2018 |title=Dr. David Applegate, USGS Geologist, Honored for Contributions to Public Understanding of Geoscience |url=https://www.americangeosciences.org/news/dr-david-applegate-usgs-geologist-honored-contributions-public-understanding-geoscience |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=American Geosciences Institute |language=en}}</ref> Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Energy Committee on April 28, 2022. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on June 14, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Business Meeting: Pending Nominations |url=https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2022/6/business-meeting-pending-nominations |website=U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources |access-date=14 June 2022 |language=en |date=14 June 2022}}</ref> His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=PN1830 - Nomination of David Applegate for Department of the Interior, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/1830 |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=14 June 2022 |date=28 April 2022}}</ref> He was sworn in by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on August 15, 2022.<ref name=2022-08-15>{{cite web |url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/david-applegate-sworn-director-us-geological-survey |title=David Applegate Sworn In as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey |date=August 15, 2022 |publisher=United States Department of the Interior |access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref> After resigning from the Director position, he became the Chief Scientist of the USGS. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Applegate, Ph.D. {{!}} U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/dave-applegate |access-date=February 18, 2025 |website=www.usgs.gov}}</ref>

== References ==

== External links == * {{C-SPAN|9276625}}

{{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef|before=James F. Reilly}} {{s-ttl|order=18th|title=Director of the United States Geological Survey|years=2021 – 2025}} {{s-aft|after=}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Applegate, David}} Category:Living people Category:Yale College alumni Category:MIT School of Science alumni Category:American geologists Category:University of Utah faculty Category:United States Geological Survey personnel Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Biden administration personnel