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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 5, 1994

PRESIDENT NAMES EATON TO HEAD USGS

The President announced today that he intends to nominate Gordon P. Eaton to be the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

The 114-year old USGS has the federal government's largest civilian mapping program and the world's largest water resources scientific and data program, and is responsible for the assessment of energy and mineral resources in the national domain as well as conducting basic and applied research into a wide range of earth science and earth hazard programs.

"Gordon Eaton is a highly respected earth scientist with a strong understanding of the workings of the USGS," said the President. "I believe he will do a fine job as Director."

Eaton, who worked at the USGS for sixteen years, is currently the Director of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, one of the country's foremost earth science research centers. In addition to his scientific background, Eaton has strong management credentials, having served as President of Iowa State University and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Texas A&M University. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A native of Ohio, Eaton holds his B.A. from Wesleyan University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from the California Institute of Technology. He is 64 years old, married, and has two grown children.

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