David Applegate (geologist)

For the computer scientist, see David Applegate.

David Applegate is an American scientist who has 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.

David Applegate
Applegate in 2022
18th Director of the United States Geological Survey
In office August 15, 2022 – January 20, 2025
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	James F. Reilly
Succeeded by	TBC
Acting
In office January 20, 2021 – August 15, 2022
Personal details
Education	Yale University (BS) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Geology
Institutions	Johns Hopkins University United States Geological Survey University of Utah
Thesis	The unroofing history of the funeral mountains metamorphic core complex, California (1994)
Doctoral advisor	Kip Hodges

Education

Applegate earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Yale University and a PhD in geology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.^[1]

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.^[2] On March 8, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Applegate to serve as director of the agency.^[3][4] 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.^[5] His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.^[6] He was sworn in by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on August 15, 2022.^[2] After resigning from the Director position, he became the Chief Scientist of the USGS. ^[7]