Tew Named Head of Geological Survey

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Berry H. “Nick” Tew Jr., director of Geographic Information Systems for the Geological Survey of Alabama, has been named state geologist and director of the Geological Survey and supervisor of the State Oil and Gas Board.

The appointment was made by University of Alabama interim President J. Barry Mason and confirmed by Gov. Don Siegelman. Tew’ s appointment became effective today. He fills the position vacated by the retirement of Dr. Donald F. Oltz Jr., who had led the Survey since 1996.

“Dr. Tew is an outstanding leader in the field of geology with a great vision for the future of our state Geological Survey and our Oil and Gas Board, “ Mason said. “I know he will do an excellent job in this new leadership role.”

Tew will formally hold the title of state geologist and oil and gas board supervisor for the Geological Survey of Alabama/State Oil and Gas Board. The cooperative governmental agencies are housed on The University of Alabama campus. Tew is also an adjunct faculty member in UA’s department of geological sciences.

Tew has worked at the Survey for the past 18 years, the last nine as director of its Geographic Information Systems/Remote Sensing Program. He earned his doctorate in geology at The University of Alabama, where he also earned master’s and bachelor’ s degrees.

Tew has experience in all the agencies’ major program and research areas, including economic geology and mineral resources, geologic mapping, oil and gas regulation, hydrogeology, environmental geology, coastal zone geology and educational outreach activities.

As director of the GIS/Remote Sensing Program, Tew built that program from the conceptual phase into one of the most respected in Alabama and the region. He has been the principal investigator on more than 15 projects, externally funded by both federal and state agencies.

Having earlier served as an exploration geologist with Cities Services Oil and Gas Company, in Tulsa, Okla. and Jackson, Miss., Tew also has experience in the private sector oil and gas industry.

He is a professional geologist licensed by the Alabama State Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists, a 21-year-member of the American Association for Petroleum Geologists, chairs the technical committee of the Alabama Geographic Information Council, and is a current nominee for vice president for the Gulf Coast Section of the Society of Sedimentary Geology.

Born in Mobile and raised in York, Tew has served as a technical adviser to the state’s governor’s office and staff on geographic information technology issues and policy. He resides in Tuscaloosa with his wife, Rhonda, and daughter, Kalyn.

Tew’s research and technical activities have resulted in the publication of more than 65 authored or co-authored journal papers, reports, book chapters, etc. Additionally, his research has led to the production of 13 CD ROMs and other digital media products.

Mason expressed appreciation to the search committee, chaired by Dr. Charles D. Haynes, UA professor of civil and environmental engineering, for its excellent work in identifying several outstanding candidates for the position.

The purpose of the Geological Survey of Alabama/State Oil and Gas Board is to explore, examine, evaluate and interrelate the geology and natural resources of Alabama, including the distribution, character, quality, and quantity of the oil and gas, coal, mineral, water, and biological resources of the state; to conserve and protect the oil and gas resources of the state, to prevent their waste, and ensure the safety, health, and protection of rights of the public; to respond to information requests regarding the geology, oil and gas and other natural resources of the state; to provide the findings of the geological, oil and gas, and other natural resource investigations through reports and maps to the public, governmental agencies, industry, educators, and the legislature; to maintain and make available geologic, oil and gas, coal, mineral, topographic, hydrogeologic, and biologic databases; and to describe and catalog representative geologic and biologic samples and archive official oil and gas records for the promotion and responsible economic development of Alabama’ s natural resources.