Suzette Kimball

As USGS Director, Dr.  Kimball revised and strengthened a number of programs, including the international activities of the USGS. Dr. Kimball entered federal service with the National Park Service as a research coordinator in the Global Climate Change Program, later becoming Southeast Regional Chief Scientist, and then Associate Regional Director. She was also an assistant professor of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia, co-director of the Center for Coastal Management and Policy and a marine scientist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and managed coastal morphology and barrier island studies for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Dr. Kimball joined the USGS as Eastern Regional Executive for Biology. In that position, she built many partnerships, helped shape programs, and led the establishment of the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center. In 2004, she became the Regional Director of the USGS Eastern Region and in 2008, she became the Associate Director for Geology. Prior to becoming Director in 2015, Dr. Kimball served as a USGS Senior Advisor to the Office of the Director and as Deputy Director.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kimball served on executive boards and many state and national committees, including the Consortium for Coastal Restoration through Science & Technology, the Council of Examiners of the National Association of State Boards of Geology, and the DOI Senior Executive Service Advisory Council. She was on the board of directors of the Coastal Society and served as secretary of the American Geophysical Union's Ocean Sciences Section.

Dr. Kimball authored numerous publications on barrier island dynamics, coastal ecosystem science, coastal zone management and policy, and natural resource exploration, evaluation, and management. She received the Presidential Rank Award and the Secretary of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award.

Dr. Kimball has a Doctorate in Environmental Sciences with a specialty in coastal processes from the University of Virginia, a Master's degree in geology and geophysics from Ball State University, and a Bachelor's degree in English and Geology from the College of William & Mary.