Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Media Contacts

The USGS has public affairs staff located across the country to respond to reporters questions. We can help you find an expert on a variety of earth and biological science topics.

Headquarters Contacts

 

USGS Public Affairs Officer

Rachel Pawlitz

 

Public Affairs Specialists

Main Public Affairs Line: 1-703-648-4460 

For information related to earthquake events, please contact the USGS National Earthquake Information Center at 303-273-8500 and select option 3 to speak to a seismologist 24/7. 

 

 

State Contacts for Press Inquiries

 

Eastern States

Includes: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, LA, MA, MD, ME, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OK, PA, PR, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VI, VT, WV

Vic Hines, Eastern States Communications Chief, 1-813-855-3125

 

Jason Burton, 678-209-5500

Coverage:

  • Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands)
  • National Minerals Information Center
  • South Atlantic Water Science Center (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina)
  • Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
  • Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

 

Jason Burton, 678-209-5500 and Jessica Fitzpatrick, 703-648-6624

Coverage:

  • Central Midwest Water Science Center (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri)
  • Columbia Environmental Research Center
  • Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee)
  • New York Water Science Center
  • Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
  • South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
  • Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

 

Jessica Fitzpatrick, 703-648-6624

Coverage:

  • Florence Bascom Geoscience Center
  • Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center
  • New England Water Science Center (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
  • New Jersey Water Science Center
  • Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • Pennsylvania Water Science Center

 

Central States

Includes: CO, ID, KS, KY, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, OH, SD, UT, WI, WY

David Ozman, Central States Communications Chief, 1-303-202-4744

 

Heidi Koontz, 303-202-4763

Coverage:

  • Colorado
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Ohio
  • Nebraska
  • New Mexico

 

Jennifer LaVista, 303-202-4764

Coverage:

  • Kansas
  • Montana
  • Utah
  • Wyoming

 

Marisa Lubeck, 303-526-6694

Coverage: 

  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • North Dakota
  • South Dakota
  • Wisconsin

 

Western States

Includes: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA

 

Miel Corbett, Western States Communications Chief, 1-503-320-3411

 

Elizabeth Goldbaum, Public Affairs Specialist, 626-318-6017

Coverage:

  • Southern California earthquakes
  • Earthquake Science Center
  • ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System
  • AK Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • NW Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • SW Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center

 

Paul Laustsen, Public Affairs Specialist, 650-847-8522

Coverage:

  • Arizona Water Science Centers
  • California Water Science Center
  • Earthquake Science Center
  • Geology Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
  • Nevada Water Science Center
  • Pacific Coastal & Marine Science Center
  • ShakeAlert
  • Southwest Biological Science Center
  • Western Ecological Research Center
  • Western Geographic Science Center

 

Ryan McClymont, Public Affairs Specialist, 503-583-7944

Coverage:

  • Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
  • Oregon Water Science Center
  • Pacific Islands Ecosystems Science Center
  • Volcano Science Center

 

Steven Sobieszczyk, Public Affairs Specialist, 503-251-3208

Coverage:

  • Alaska Science Center
  • Astrogeology Science Center
  • Idaho Water Science Center
  • Pacific Islands Water Science Centers
  • Washington Water Science Center
  • Western Fisheries Research Center