VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 4 | FALL 2025
NEW STATE GEOLOGIST SETS SIGHTS ON FUTURE
Committed to Alaska for more than 50 years. We measure success not only by what we do but how we do it. Our team is dedicated to the safe and responsible development of oil, ensuring a healthy economy for future generations of Alaskans.
Dr. Erin Campbell brings wealth of experience to DGGS BY TIM BRADNER ALASKA HAS A NEW STATE GEOLOGIST IN DR. ERIN CAMPBELL. Former State Natural Resources Com- missioner John Boyle announced Camp- bell’s appointment as the State Geologist and Director of the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS). The division was previously led by Dr. Melanie Werdon, who retired earlier this year. Dr. Campbell was most previously the state geologist in Wyoming. She brings a strong background in geo- logic field work, more than a decade teach- ing at the college level and a long-time com- mitment to public service, Boyle said. “Dr. Campbell is superbly qualified for this technical role and brings an established record of state-level leadership,” he said. “I’m delighted to have such an impressive sci- entist serving as state geologist, leading the division and guiding natural resource policy in Alaska.” With a background in petroleum studies and structural geology, Dr. Campbell holds a bachelor’s of science with a major in geol- ogy and a minor in mathematics from Occi- dental College. She attended the University of Wyoming to obtain her Ph.D. in geology, specializing in structural geology with a sec- ondary emphasis in geophysics. She then worked as a geologist for Chevron for four years in Louisiana and California before re- turning to Wyoming. During 15 years at the University of Wyoming, she taught undergraduate and graduate courses and directed the Geology Field Camp. Her study included research in structural geology, geomechanics, and CO2 sequestration, and she established the Creta- ceous Tight Oil Consortium in the Powder
River Basin.
to meet these talented and dedicated people, and to get a better understanding of the breadth of work we do at DGGS,” she said. “I’m also making it a point to talk with people in Alaska’s industry, communities, universities and government to see how the DGGS can be of greatest service.” As for longer-term plans: “Once I’ve got more informa-
Later in her career, Dr. Campbell focused on public service. She spent a year as the manager of the Energy & Mineral Resources Division at the Wyoming State Geo- logical Survey before being appointed as Wyoming State Geologist and Director of the survey in 2017, where she served until moving to Alas- ka this summer.
She has worked extensively at the nation- al level with the Association of American State Geologists. Dr. Campbell will lead 70 employees within the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys who generate, analyze and interpret data on geologic resources and natural conditions, as well as map and inventory mineral and energy resources on state land for use by government, private in- dustry, scientists, educators and the public. DGGS also manages programs for hydrolo- gy & surficial geology, natural hazards and geophysics, plus runs the Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage. At the top of her to-do list at DGGS, is re- sponse to Typhoon Halong which hit west- ern Alaska this fall. “The DGGS Alaska Flood Inundation Tool kit is used by the National Weather Ser- vice and communities to identify potential flooding in coastal areas,” Campbell said. “Right now, we are coordinating with state and federal partners to gather information to help us improve that tool. We are working to get data such as high-water marks, drone and satellite imagery, and detailed elevation data with Lidar (Light Detection and Rang- ing) to assess damage and erosion.” For the first six months on the job Dr. Campbell will focus on learning about the agency and the state. “I’ve been here two months now, and I’m close to completing one-on-one meet- ings with our staff. It’s been a real pleasure
tion about DGGS and the needs of the state, I’ll be more specific. But one of my five-year goals is to determine how to make us more resilient when federal funding is delayed or uncertain. We do crucial work for the state that saves lives and brings in state revenue, and we’ve got to ensure that we can deliver under any circumstances.” Minerals and oil and gas are areas where DGGS is very active. “The DGGS minerals and surficial geol- ogy groups have a long list of projects, from making geologic maps and analyzing sam- ples across the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, to flying airborne geophysical surveys over po- tential mineralized zones around the state. The survey is working to attract industry interest in state resources,” Campbell said. Work on critical minerals is one prior- ity. The DGGS is working in a partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks on a project to develop ways of identifying and extracting critical minerals and rare earths. Phase one is completed and funding for phase two has been awarded but not yet al- located. Phase two will include looking at critical minerals associated with coal. On oil and gas, DGGS staff are continu- ing to work on the North Slope to identify new plays, Campbell said. “In the Cook Inlet, we are characterizing the entire basin in terms of reservoir quality and geologic structures, such as faults,” she said.
Learn more
Samking, Operator Apprentice Jennifer, Operations Compliance Specialist
24
9
www.AKRDC.org
ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW FALL 2025
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator