David G. Campbell
David G. Campbell,
candidate for president-elect of AAPG, is a consulting geologist
and president of Earth Hawk Exploration in Oklahoma City.
A native
of Oklahoma City, Campbell received his bachelor's degree
in geology from the University of Tulsa and his master's from
the University of Oklahoma. He served four years in the U.S.
Naval Reserve during his undergraduate studies and served
two years active duty in the U.S. Army prior to entering graduate
school.
He began
his career with Lone Star Producing in Oklahoma City in 1957,
then joined Tenneco Oil in 1965, serving as exploration project
geologist in Denver, district exploration geologist in Oklahoma
City and mid-continent division geological consultant.
In 1977
he joined Leede Exploration, and in 1980 formed Earth Hawk
Exploration. From 1983-96 the firm was affiliated with PetroCorp,
with Campbell serving as division general manager from 1992-96.
An active
member of AAPG since 1956, Campbell is a Certified Petroleum
Geologist.
Campbell
is a delegate-at-large of the House of Delegates, where he
served as chairman in 1981-82, served on the Advisory Council
as an elected councilor of the Mid-Continent Section from
1984-87 and also as Energy Minerals Division councilor from
1992-94.
He is
a member of the Committee on Committees, which he chaired
from 1992-98, the Astrogeology Committee and has served on
the Membership and Convention Coordinating committees, as
well as chair of two special ad hoc committees reviewing certain
association policies.
He served
as AAPG vice president in 1990-91.
AAPG
honors include the Distinguished Service Award and Honorary
Membership.
A Foundation
trustee associate, he is also serving a five-year term as
a member of the Foundation Corporation. Campbell served on
the Advisory Board for the Treatise of Petroleum Geology from
1986-91.
He is
a member of EMD and was a charter member of the Division of
Environmental Geosciences.
Other
professional affiliations include the Society of Independent
Professional Earth Scientists; Petroleum Exploration Society
of Great Britain; Houston and Tulsa geological societies;
Sigma Xi; the New York Academy of Sciences; a charter member
of the Geological Society of Moscow, Russia; and is an honorary
life member of the Oklahoma City Geological Society. He was
the founding president of The Oklahoma City Geological Foundation,
formed in 1994.
Currently
a member and past chairman of the Alumni Advisory Council
of the School of Geology and Geophysics at the University
of Oklahoma, Campbell is also a member of the OU Foundation
Associates.
Campbell
is listed in the current/recent editions of Who's Who in Science
and Engineering, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the
World.
Why I Accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for AAPG Office
Being
asked to be a candidate for AAPG president is a singular honor,
which I accept with great humility. I am deeply appreciative of
the opportunity to continue to serve this pre-eminent geoscientific
organization that has provided so many benefits throughout my career
as a petroleum geologist.
Through
myriad seminars, publications, committee activities and the exchange
of ideas with other members of the association, I have become increasingly
aware of the multifaceted role of the AAPG in serving a global scientific
constituency, and of its vital importance to our profession and
related societies.
As a
result of the strong, persistent influence of "volunteerism" among
my AAPG peers, I've had the great fortune to serve on the Executive
Committee as chairman of the House of Delegates; Mid-continent representative
on the Advisory Council; Mid-continent councilor to the EMD; and
again on the Executive Committee as vice president. This was followed
by chairing several committees, including the standing Committee
on Committees, of which I remain a member. In addition to being
a Trustee Associate, I am currently serving a five-year term as
a corporate member of the AAPG Foundation.
This
broad spectrum of AAPG participation throughout my career has afforded
me the opportunity to observe the dynamism and diversity of this
superlative scientific and professional community known as the AAPG.
♦ Dynamic, because it is in a continuing state of evolution
in which a volatile but generally increasing worldwide demand for
various forms of energy must be tempered by requisite stewardship
of the environment. This is further impacted by the changing needs
of all members of AAPG in an era of rapid technological advances,
changing corporate structure and a fluctuating job market.
♦
Diverse, because the association continues to augment
its representation and responsibilities within a sphere of expanding
international membership and involvement in new energy sources;
and to reach out to other geoscientific groups in a synergistic
effort to attain common objectives.
In my
opinion, the continuing success of the AAPG is the result of the
effective leadership of our elected officers and dedicated committee
members (a.k.a. volunteers) working in concert with a professional,
highly-motivated staff to achieve the goals that benefit every member,
regardless of his or her scientific or professional specialization.
By the
same token, the dynamism and the diversity cited above require frequent
reviews of policies and procedures to ensure that the AAPG is not
only cognizant of, but responsive to the needs of its members. Toward
that end, I look forward to meeting the members as we officer candidates
attend the scheduled AAPG Section meetings in the ensuing months.
Indeed,
I enthusiastically accept the challenge, and consider this nomination
to be a unique opportunity to give back in some measure to the organization
that has contributed so much to my professional career and scientific
training.
Regardless
of the outcome of the election, I shall forever hold the AAPG in
the highest esteem - its membership includes some of the greatest
men and women with whom I could ever hope to be associated.
Daniel L. Smith
Daniel
L. Smith, a candidate for president-elect
of AAPG, is a Houston independent.
A native
Houstonian, he received a bachelor's degree in geology from
the University of Texas at Austin.
His professional
career began with Pan American petroleum (now BP Amoco), and
in 1967 he joined Roberts and Whitson Petroleum as exploration
manager.
Over
the following years he worked for Texoil Co. as part owner,
executive vice president and exploration manager. In 1992
he joined Texas Meridian Resources (now The Meridian Resource
Corp.) as a consultant and later joined the company as vice
president of exploration, retiring in 1999 as vice president-new
ventures.
An Active
member of AAPG since 1959, Smith is a Certified Petroleum
Geologist.
He has
been active in the House of Delegates for 18 years as a delegate
and foreman from the Houston Geological Society (HGS). He
has served as chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee,
Nominations Committee, Special Resolution Committee on International
and Domestic Representation, and a member of the House Procedures
Committee.
Smith
was HOD chairman and on the AAPG Executive Committee in 1997-98.
In 2000 he was the first recipient of the HOD Distinguished
Service Award.
His AAPG
committee activities include the Committee on Conventions,
the Committee on Committees and the Visiting Geologists Committee.
At the 1995 annual meeting he was DPA vice chairman, DPA program
chairman and the recipient of the DPA Best Paper Award.
He was
co-chair of the Summit on Sections Meeting in 1997.
Active
in the Houston Geological Society (HGS), he was president
in 1987 and has received the HGS Honorary Membership Award
and its Distinguished Service Award. He is currently chairman
of the Graduate Memorial Scholarship Board and the HGS Advisory
Committee.
Smith
was general co-chairman of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological
Societies (GCAGS) annual convention in 1991 and remains chairman
of the GCAGS Conventions Committee. From GCAGS he has received
Honorary Membership and Distinguished Service awards.
He is
the current chairman of GCAGS' Distinguished Visitors Committee,
and is a member of its Program Committee. This year's GCAGS
Transactions is dedicated to Smith.
He also
is an AAPG Foundation Trustee Associate.
Other
memberships include the Society of Independent Professional
Earth Scientists, the American Institute of Professional Geologists,
Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Houston Producers Forum,
Onshore Exploration Independents of Houston (co-founder),
Chief Geologists of Houston and the Association of Houston
Exploration Managers.
Why I Accepted the Invitation to be
a Candidate for AAPG Office
Membership
in AAPG is an essential part of my professional and personal life.
It is the primary reason for my 42 years of being able to be an
active player in the petroleum exploration business. Continuing
education and networking opportunities have been the keys that have
opened the doors for me. I will forever desire to give back to AAPG
for providing these vital opportunities.
How the
AAPG leadership responds to the needs of its members is critical
to the future success and value of the Association. I would welcome
the chance to be part of that leadership.
AAPG
has been changing in response to a changing industry. I prefer to
address change with a positive attitude, rather than a problematic
one. Challenges can always be met head-on and solved with good teamwork,
open communications, positive attitude and a democratic approach.
Positiveness among all involved when debating the hard issues is
essential. I am very sensitive to the concerns and needs of the
members and will listen to each one.
The following is a partial list of challenges we face:
The opportunity for AAPG to become "Career Partners for Life" for
every member, which would replace the "company base" that has virtually
disappeared because of the new mobility, loss of company training
and the near-end to company/employee loyalty.
This
should include career management resources and educational programs
that are timely, useful, state-of-the-art and cost-effective.
The
digital-information-technology revolution has hit the energy sector
full blast and is changing everything, including virtually all functions
of AAPG. There are new ways for the association to disseminate technical
information, conduct continuing education programs and reach members
who are otherwise inaccessible with traditional approaches.
AAPG
must catch up to the workplace as multifunctional teams continue
to rule the day in business. It is increasingly difficult to separate
geology, geophysics, land functions, engineering and all specialties
of the geosciences. Already, multifunctional meetings, seminars,
short courses and conventions are becoming prevalent.
As this
trend proliferates, AAPG should be the leader, but at the same time
retain its important traditions.
Why do so many geologists in the workplace have the
opinion that AAPG does not meet their broad-based needs? I continue
to find this to be a principle reason for non-renewal of memberships.
Is this merely misperception and lack of communication about available
services?
We must
pursue how AAPG can better serve the membership to retain existing
members. Fiscal responsibility must be the controlling factor as
we fund services to members.
I continue to be very concerned about lack of proper behavior and
professional conduct among some members of the geoscience community.
As chairman of the House of Delegates I formed an ad hoc Committee
that improved the AAPG Code of Ethics. This area needs more attention.
AAPG
should be involved in public and governmental affairs that impact
our ability to make a living and practice our profession. We should
embrace the reality that energy companies need more freedom and
less governmental regulation to meet the energy needs of the future.
I fully support DPA's Governmental Affairs Committee in drafting
Position Papers on important issues. The relative freedom of the
computer industry has led to an explosion of innovation and productivity.
The same freedom given the energy industry would lead to the same
result. The new energy economy is defined by a philosophy of producing
"more for less, and much faster." AAPG should do the same in its
multi-functions.
Why
are regulatory, legal, accounting and tax considerations deemed
more critical to the success of energy companies than the technical
aspects? College freshmen see their path in accounting and law.
"Why bother with geology, math, physics and chemistry?" How can
AAPG get the youth of America interested in geology, and why don't
younger members get more active in AAPG activities?
The association
is doing much in this area, but it remains a critical challenge.
We must increase Web-based information specifically useful to students
and provide a venue in which the students can interact with AAPG.
The challenge
is enormous. The average age of an AAPG member is 49. Barring a
substantial influx of younger members, beginning 2010 the association
may begin to experience a membership decline of up to 30 percent.
We must recognize that the member base is changing, and that the
services well suited to senior members may need to be delivered
differently to younger members. Both groups must be serviced equitably.
AAPG
increasingly is growing into the international arena. I was very
much involved in the long-standing effort to provide adequate representation
for our foreign members in the governance of AAPG. A continuing
challenge is to provide services to our foreign colleagues. At the
same time, let us not forget the tremendous opportunities remaining
domestically. I've been there, both domestic and foreign.
Finally,
my past AAPG activities have provided me with a thorough understanding
of how the association functions. When I think about the challenges
facing AAPG and geologists everywhere, the fire burns deep inside
to be even more pro-active in the search for solutions. It's this
kind of intense passion that can make a difference. Together, we
can build a stronger association.