gordon p eaton chosen to receive the 2016 michel t halbouty medalsep 14 2016the college of geosciences at texas a&m university is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2016 michel t halbouty geosciences medal dr gordon p eatondr eatons career spans over 40 years in geosciences as an educator researcher director and college administrator gordon eaton began as an assistant professor at wesleyan university from 1955-1959 after accepting a position at the university of california at riverside in 1959 and advancing to associate professor he began an association with the united states geological survey (usgs) that would eventually lead to him join their ranks in 1967 at the usgs dr eaton held several positions – including serving as scientist-in-charge of the hawaiian volcano observatory and project chief of the southwestern geophysics project dr eaton returned to academia in 1981 when he was named dean of the college of geosciences at texas a&m university after just two years as dean his leadership was quickly recognized – and promoted to provost and vice president for academic affairs in 1986 he became president of iowa state university and served until 1990 when he resigned to become the director of columbia universitys lamont-doherty geological observatory dr eaton returned to the usgs in 1994 as its twelfth director after being appointed by president bill clinton he retired from the usgs in 1997 upon his retirement secretary of the interior bruce babbitt paid tribute with the following remarks: dr eaton has guided the helm of the us geological survey and its community of scientists for over three years during a dramatic sea-change for the survey under his guidance the usgs has expanded to become the preeminent science bureau for the department of the interior one that now encompasses the disciplines of biology geology hydrology and mapping in addition he has been a tireless advocate for the survey through difficult periods of downsizing funding uncertainties and transformation of its mission i accept his retirement with regret and a great deal of respect without a doubt gordons most lasting and most important contribution to the geosciences was the role of defender and protector of the geosciences in the us federal government noted one of his nominators gordon reshaped the usgs to provide relevant science to the citizens of the united states the usgs became known as an agency that was sensitive and responsive under his leadership another nominator adds during dr eatons tenure at texas a&m the college of geosciences was actively pursuing and eventually selected to be the science operator for the ocean drilling program this was by far the largest scientific research program that the college had ever been associated with dr eaton as dean of the college and the provost of the university was instrumental in bringing this prestigious program to the college of geosciences today the iodp is the largest federally funded research project at texas a&m the michel t halbouty geosciences medal is conferred by the dean college of geosciences for distinguished achievement in the development of earth resources and in the application of geoscience to the discovery use and conservation of earth resources the award will be presented at a gala celebration on the evening of friday november 11 2016 at texas a&m university in college station texas dr gordon p eaton in front of the residence hall at iowa state university bearing his namesake (photo courtesy of iowa state university)