As Regional Safety Manager for the USGS Northwest-Pacific Islands Region, Bill Simonds supports Safety Programs at seven USGS Science Centers in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.
Bill Simonds is the Regional Safety Manager for the USGS Northwest-Pacific Islands region which encompasses Department of the Interior Regions 9 and 12. Bill works closely with the Bureau Safety Program to implement Safety policy and best practices by providing oversight and support for all science and operational activities within 7 Ecosystems and Water Science Centers located in Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Bill’s primary focus is assisting Collateral Duty Safety Program Coordinators and managers at each Center to achieve the highest level of accident and loss prevention and regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining the Region as a Safety manager, Bill worked as a Hydrologist and Hydrologic Technician for the Washington Water Science Center. Prior to that Bill was a Geologist and Physical Science Technician for the Yucca Mountain Program Office and the Branch of Environmental Geology based out of Denver, Colorado.
Bill’s early USGS experience included geologic mapping projects in a wide variety of geologic settings and locations in the western U.S. His later work as a hydrologist included surface water and ground water data collection, ground water modeling and surface water/ground water interactions.
Bill’s wide range of USGS experience comes together in providing guidance and support for USGS safety programs. Bill earned his Certified Safety Professional accreditation and now provides assistance to Center, Regional and Bureau level Safety Programs including safety training and training development specific to USGS missions.
Professional Experience
2008–present: Regional Safety Manager, DOI Regions 9 & 12, Portland, OR
2006 to 2008: Western Region Safety Officer for WRD, Vancouver, WA
2002 to 2006: Hydrologist, Washington Water Science Center, Tacoma, WA
1996 to 2002: Lead Hydrologic Technician, Washington Water Science Center, Tacoma, WA
1983 to 1996: Geologist and Physical Science Technician, Yucca Mountain Program Office, Branch of Environmental Geology, Denver, CO
Education and Certifications
CSP, Certified Safety Professional accreditation through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals
MS, Geology, University of Colorado Boulder, CO
BS, Geology, Colorado State University
Affiliations and Memberships*
2016–present: Certified Safety Professional
2002-present: Licensed Professional Geologist and Hydrogeologist, State of Washington
2010–present: Member American Society of Safety Professionals
Science and Products
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government