Thank you to the American Geophysical Union and colleagues for the Paul G. Silver Award for Scientific Service

Thank you for this great honor of the Paul G. Silver Award for Outstanding Scientific Service. Recognition from AGU’s Geodesy, Seismology, and Tectonophysics Sections adds to its heft. I am happy that Paul’s family is represented. I know we have all benefited from Paul Silver’s leadership and legacy. I was fortunate to meet him on several occasions and appreciated his wit and the spark that drove major science activities on which I was later able to contribute. I am humbled to be in the same list as those who have been awarded before. Congratulations to Doug Toomey--the other recipient this year of the award.

This recognition reflects the efforts of many of my colleagues with whom I have shared numerous projects. I know that many of you are strongly dedicated to serving your families and the communities of your private and scientific lives. I hope that this honor can lift us all as we acknowledge efforts to coordinate activity for our broader good helping others.

It has been satisfying and stimulating to help with major earth science efforts and organizations including GeoPrisms, Southern California Earthquake Center, EarthScope, AGeS - Awards for Geochronology Student Research, and OpenTopography. I share this recognition with collaborators and friends in those organizations. Colleagues in the National Science Foundation and US Geological Survey have worked mightily to sustain support.

I was inspired to serve by the example of many, including mentors Dallas Rhodes, David Pollard, and Manfred Strecker. Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration Prof. Jim Tyburczy showed me a firm and balanced approach to leadership. My service as associate and deputy to SESE Directors Hodges, Elkins-Tanton, and Wadhwa has given me an opportunity to learn about academic administration and help students, faculty, and staff.

I want to close with a thank you to family including my sister and her husband and their daughters. Our parents--a teacher and a mechanical designer--steadfastly supported me. In their retirement, they served as the Los Ranchos (New Mexico) farmer’s market managers. Their dedicated and steady service made the market an institution. Thank you to my wife Amanda for her love and clear thinking which keeps us going in the right direction.

Here is a video of this speech: LINK