ALASKA GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
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Pathfinders​. 

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About Pathfinders in Alaska Geology. 

This award was established in 2023 to recognize true trailblazers in the geosciences in Alaska; men and women who made enormous contributions to the general understanding of the geology of the Last Frontier.

​Alaska geology is exceptionally diverse and complicated.  Mapping and development of geologic models in Alaska are further challenged by its remoteness, severe weather, and limited infrastructure.  There have been multiple key geoscientists that have risen above these difficulties and helped build a multifaceted geologic model of the state that continues to evolve and improve as more work is performed. 
These are the “Pathfinders in Alaska Geology”.

Pathfinders in Alaska Geology. 

Select name below to see award plaque. (pdfs)
Class of 2024
  • Bird, Kenneth
  • Foster, Helen
  • Hamilton, Thomas​
  • Plafker, George
  • Silberling, Norman
  • Wahrhaftig, Clyde
​Inaugural Class of 2023
  • Brew, David "Dave" Alan
  • Brooks, Alfred Hulse
  • Brosge, William "Bill" P.
  • Buddington, Arthur "Bud" Freancis
  • Capps, Stephen Reid Jr.
  • Coats, Robert Roy
  • Detterman, Robert "Buck" L.
  • Grantz, Arthur "Art"
  • Hopkins, David M.
  • Jones, David "Davy" L.
  • Leffingwell, Ernest de Koven
  • MacKevett, Edward "Ed" Malcolm Jr.
  • Marshall, Thomas "Tom" R. Jr.
  • Martin, George C.
  • Mendenhall, Walter Curran
  • Mertie, John Beaver Jr.
  • Miller, Don John
  • Moffit, Fred Howard
  • Mull, Charles "Gil" G.
  • Nokleberg, Warren J.
  • Patton, William "Bill" W. Jr.
  • Pewe, Troy L.
  • Prindle, Louis Marcus
  • Richter, Donald "Don" H.
  • Schrader, Frank Charles
  • Smith, Philip S.
  • Spurr, Josiah Edward
  • St. Amand, Pierre
  • Stone, David B.
  • Tailleur, Irvin "Irv" L.
  • Wallace, Wesley "Wes"
  • Weber, Florence Marie Robinson

Pathfinders Nomination ​​​​and Election Process. 

Criteria and Nomination Online Form
Candidates can be nominated at any time. Awards will be announced yearly at the AGS annual Technical Conference, usually held in April, at an award ceremony. To be eligible for the April award ceremony, THE CANDIDATE MUST BE NOMINATED BY DECEMBER 1ST OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. All nominees will be considered by the AGS Pathfinders Committee, who will forward a list of recommended Pathfinders to the AGS Board of Directors during the first quarter of the new year. If approved, a plaque with a photo and a (~120 word) biography of the elected Pathfinders will be created and unveiled at the Technical Conference award ceremony. Pathfinder plaques will ultimately reside at the Alaska Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage and will also be available to view and download via the AGS website.
 

Moving forward, a maximum of 3 Pathfinders will be elected in any given year based on a majority vote of the committee. If a nominee is not elected in the first year of consideration, that person can be considered in the following year. A nominee may be living or deceased. If a member of the AGS Pathfinders committee is nominated, that person is recused from voting that year.
 
The Pathfinders in Alaska Geology Committee is established by a vote of the AGS Board of Directors and is composed at least 5 members, each of whom has significant familiarity with Alaska geology. The committee may consist of up to 10 members and the committee should represent a breadth of geologic disciplines, institutions, and industries.
To apply for a position of the Pathfinders committee, please contact the standing AGS Pathfinders Committee Chairperson (see email below).

Current Committee Members. 

  • Tom Homza (Chair), Shell International Exploration Company​
  • David Houseknecht, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Susan Karl, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Paul Layer, University of Alaska
  • Steven Masterman, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (retired)​
  • Richard Reger, Alaska Division of Geological Surveys (retired)
  • Robert Swenson, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (retired)
  • Marwan Wartes, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys

Past Committee Members. 

  • Paul Decker, Petroleum Industry & Alaska Division of Oil & Gas (retired)
  • Curt Freeman, Avalon Alaska
  • Michael Whalen, University of Alaska

Contact Committee Chair

[email protected]
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EMAIL US  | AGS, PO Box 101288, Anchorage AK 99510

​AGS is a 501(C)3 charitable organization and any donations are tax deductible. Our tax ID is 92-6009301. 
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