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SpatialNews Press Release
Karen Siderelis is Named USGS Geographic Information Officer
U.S. Geological Survey Director Charles Groat announced the appointment of
Karen Siderelis as the USGS Geographic Information Officer (GIO) effective
November 27, 2000. Siderelis has most recently served as director of the
Center for Geographic Information for the state of North Carolina.
"The power of place-based information can integrate and enhance all of our
science at USGS," Groat said. "I am confident that Karen has the technical
knowledge, the organizational ability, and the initiative to effectively
develop and implement our organizational vision for this new position."
The responsibilities of the GIO at the USGS will be similar to those of a
Chief Information Officer (CIO), a position mandated for all Cabinet
departments and recommended for all federal agencies by the 1996
Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA). The USGS is unique
among federal agencies, however, in specifically designating this position
as a Geographic Information Officer.
"The USGS is widely recognized for providing reliable scientific
information," said Groat. "By establishing the position of a GIO, we want
to fully develop the rich potential of geographic information for
integrating our scientific findings and for making our science even more
accessible to the public."
As the GIO, Siderelis will be responsible for guiding the formulation of
agency strategies that will provide innovative information management
solutions and ensure the integrity of USGS scientific information. She
will ensure that USGS information management policy supports its mission
and will provide leadership in coordinating USGS scientific information
management with other government agencies.
While serving as director of the Center for Geographic Information for the
state of North Carolina, Siderelis managed the state's GIS service center
and oversaw the development and maintenance of a statewide geographic
database. From 1981 to 1991 she was the director of the Land Resources
Information Service of the N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and
Natural Resources. She has been a member of the Mapping Science Committee
of the National Academy of Sciences since 1994 (vice chair since 1997) and
has served on the board of the National States Geographic Information
Council since 1993 (president, 1998-99).
Siderelis received a master's degree in park management from the University
in Georgia in 1976 and a bachelor's degree in education in 1973 from the
University in Georgia. She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science and civilian
mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2000
organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial, scientific
information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This
information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the
loss of life and property from natural disasters, to contribute to the
conservation and the sound economic and physical development of the
nation's natural resources, and to enhance the quality of life by
monitoring water, biological, energy and mineral resources.
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
119 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Contact: Jon Campbell, 703-648-4180, joncampbell@usgs.gov
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