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A. Wesley Ward, Jr. Western Regional Geologist U.S. Geological Survey, Astrogeology Team 2255 N. Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ, 86001 Phone: (928) 556-7220 FAX: (928) 556-7014 E-mail: wward@usgs.gov Education Experience Professional Societies Honors & Awards Major Research Projects Bibliography Return to About:People

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Education

• Ph.D., Geological Sciences, University of Washington, 1978
• M.S., Geological Sciences, University of Washington, 1975
• B.S., Geology, Washington State University, 1973
• Diploma, Evanston Township High School, Evanston IL, 1965

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Experience

General

• U.S. Army, 1967-70, Air-defense Artillery

Planet Storm!

Setting up a shot with Discovery Channel Planet Storm crew in the Mojave Desert. This segment of the program was on simulating an astronaut on Mars encountering a relatively small (10-foot) dust devil. 700 x 464, 78 kB Taking wind readings with a hand-held anemometer to understand velocities and the behavior of dust particles in a simulated, small martian dust devil. From the Discovery Channel production "Planet Storm". 399 x 600, 41 kB Visit the Discovery Channel

USGS

• Western Regional Geologist , 2003-present
• Acting Associate Western Regional Geologist , 2003
• Astrogeology Program Chief Scientist, 1996-2003
• Flagstaff Field Center Chief Scientist, 1994-96
• (First) Chair, Geologic Division Ethnic Minority Advisory Committee, 1992-93
• Southwest Region Coordinator, Minority Participation in the Earth Sciences, 1989-95
• Group Leader, Western Region Geologic Mapping Team, Flagstaff, 1988-94
• Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff AZ, 1975-present

Academic/Professional Activities

• Member, Faculty Search Committee, Geology Dept., Northern Arizona University, 2002
• Member, Ph.D. Committee, Northern Arizona University, 2001-present
• Member, Selection Panel, Mars Data Analysis Program, 2001
• Featured Participant, "Planet Storm", Discovery Channel Production, 2001
• Member, Presidential Search Committee, Northern Arizona University, 2001
• Invited participant, NSF Witwatersrand Deep Microbiology Project undergraduate exchange program for African Americans and previously disadvantaged South Africans, December 2000
• Project Supervisor, Caltech Ph.D. student, 2000-2002
• Member, Selection Panel, Mars Polar Lander Participating Scientists, 1999
• Member, Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) Flight Team, 1996-97; Leader, Geology and Geomorphology Science Operations Team, Mars Pathfinder, 1997
• Member, Presidential Commission on the Environment/Sustainability, Geological Society of America, 1996-2000
• Symposium Co-Organizer, Environmental Justice, Geological Society of America Annual Meetings, New Orleans 1995, Denver 1996, Salt Lake City 1997
• Symposium Organizer, Women and Minorities in the Geosciences: Education, Recruitment, and Professional Development, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, 1993
• Co-investigator, Geographic Information Systems and Geology, Northern Arizona Public Schools, 1993
• Member, Board of Directors; Flagstaff Festival of Science, 1992-96
• Western Region Co-coordinator, National Association for Black Geologists and Geophysicists, 1992-96; President, 1996-98, 1998-2000, Past President 2000-02
• Member, Geological Society of America Committee on Minorities and Women in the Geosciences, 1989; Chair, 1990-92, 1992-94
• Chair, National Science Foundation Instrument and Laboratory Improvement Program Panel, 1996
• Adjunct Faculty, Geology Department, Northern Arizona University, 1990-1995, 1996-present
• Member, National Science Foundation Teacher Improvement and Curriculum Enhancement Program Panel, 1987, 1989, 1990
• Invited Member, Earth Sciences Steering Committee, NASA Geostationary Platform, 1987-89
• Lecturer, Northern Arizona Univ. Summer Science Institute, 1986
• Symposium Co-organizer, Late Quaternary Alluvial History of the Southwest, Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section, 1986
• Member, Thesis Committees, Dept. of Geology, Northern Arizona University: 1983-85; 1984-87; 1986-89
• Member, NASA Planetary Geology Review Panel, 1980-82, 1982-84
• Chairman, NASA Symposium, Planetary Eolian Processes, 1980, 1983
• Lecturer, NASA Planetary Geology Summer Institute, Tempe AZ, 1979
• Post-doctoral Fellow, Arizona State University, Tempe, 1978-79
• Instructor, Kent Community College, Kent, WA, 1974
• Teaching Assistant/Instructor, University of Washington, Seattle, 1973-78
• Intern, Atlantic Richfield Hanford Co., Richland WA, summer 1972, 1974
• Geology Club, Washington State University; Secretary 1971-72, President 1972-73

Community Participation

• Member, Board of Directors, Flagstaff Cultural Partners, 1999; vice-president 2000; president 2001-present
• Member, Board of Directors, Grand Canyon Association, 1997-2002
• Organizer, Science Day 1997, Flagstaff Leadership Program
• Member, Flagstaff Light Opera Company 1995-present; Advisory Board 2001-present
• Member, Board of Directors, Doney Park Water Association, Flagstaff, 1990-96; Treasurer 1990-94; Secretary 1993-95
• Member, Board of Directors, Museum of Northern Arizona, 1989-98; Executive Committee, 1990-; Secretary, 1991; Vice-President, 1992-94; President, 1994-96
• Member, President's Advisory Council on African-American Affairs, Northern Arizona University, 1989-90
• Keynote Speaker, MLK Holiday, City of Flagstaff, 1986
• Mentor, Northern Arizona University Mentors Program, 1984-86
• Member, Board of Directors, Big Brothers of Flagstaff, 1983-93; Advisory Board, 1994-present
• Big Brother, Big Brothers of Flagstaff, 1980-87, 88-92, 93-95; Big Brother of The Year, 1990
• Member, Board of Directors, Buffalo Soldiers Historical Society, 1977-84; Chairman, 1980-84

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Professional Societies

• National Association for Black Geologists and Geophysicists, 1992-present; President, 1996-98, 1998-2000; Executive Committee, 2000-02
• Association for Women Geoscientists: 1993-98
• Geological Society of America, 1973-present; Fellow 1993
• Sigma Xi, 1979-present

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Honors & Awards

• USGS STAR Award for Leadership, 2001
• USGS STAR Award for Leadership, 2000
• USGS STAR Award for Leadership, 1999
• Class President, Class 247-A, Federal Executive Institute, March/September 1999
• Mars Pathfinder Group Achievement Award, 1998
• U.S. Geological Survey Public Service Award, 1993
• Geological Society of America Fellow, 1993
• U.S. Geological Survey Special Achievement Award, 1988

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Major Research Projects

• Geomorphology of terrestrial and Martian wind features
• Geology of the San Juan Basin, Northern New Mexico
• Flood Lavas -- Columbia River Basalts (Earth) and Mars
• Geology of the Mohon Mountains Volcanic Field, Arizona
• Geology of the Mojave Desert, Southern California

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Bibliography

Grolier, M. J., Ward, A. W., and McCauley, J. F., 1976, Wind trends in Peru and on Mars: National Aeronautics and Space Administration TM X-3364, p. 115-116.

Ward, A. W., 1976, Chemistry and petrology of the Huntzinger flow, Columbia River basalt: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 8, no. 3, p. 418-419.

Ward, A. W., 1976, Chemistry and petrology of the Huntzinger flow, Columbia River basalt: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 8, no. 6, p. 1161. (Invited).

Ward, A. W., 1976, Petrology and chemistry of the Huntzinger flow, Columbia River Basalt, Washington: ARHCO TM AR SA 272, Atlantic Richfield Hanford Co., Richland, Wash., 156 p. (M.S. thesis).

McCauley, J. F., Ward, A. W., Breed, C. S., Grolier, M. J., and Greeley, Ronald, 1977, Experimental modeling of wind erosion forms: National Aeronautics and Space Administration TM X-3511, p. 150-152.

Ward, A. W., McCauley, J. F., and Grolier, M. J., 1977, The yardangs at Rogers Dry Lake, California: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 9, no. 7, p. 1216.

Ward, A. W., 1978, Windforms and wind trends on Mars -- an evaluation of Martian surficial geology from Mariner 9 and Viking spacecraft television images: U. of Washington Ph.D. thesis, 201 p.

Breed, C. S., Ward, A. W., and McCauley, J. F., 1978, Windform patterns on Earth and on Mars--implications for similarities of eolian processes on two planets: National Aeronautics and Space Administration TM 79729, p. 228-229.

Ward, A. W., McCauley, J. F., and Grolier, M. J., 1978, The yardangs at Rogers Playa, California: National Aeronautics and Space Administration TM 79729, p. 209-210.

Ward, A. W., 1978, Yardangs on Mars--evidence for recent widespread wind erosion: American Astronomical Society Bulletin, v. 10, no. 3, p. 557.

McCauley, J. F. and others including Ward, A. W., 1979, Pitted and fluted rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt--Viking comparisons: Jour. Geophys. Res., v. 84, p. 8222-8232.

Ward, A. W., 1979, Yardangs on Mars--Evidence for recent wind erosion: Jour. Geophys. Res., v. 84, p. 8147-8166.

Ward, A. W. and Thomas, Peter, 1982, Mars--global inventory of eolian features: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 14, no. 7, p. 641.

Ward, A. W. and others, 1983, A USGS Program for Investigations of Eolian Processes: Administrative Report, 24 p.

Greeley, Ronald and others including Ward, A. W., 1980, Mars landing site analyses--Arsia Mons West and Chryse Planitia, in Davies, D., ed., Future Missions -- Mars Surface Sample Return: JPL Technical Report 715-23, 54 p.

Ward, A. W., Helm, P. J., Witbeck, N., and Weisman, M., 1980, Global digital map of Martian eolian features: NASA Technical Memo 82385, p. 330-332.

Ward, A. W. and Doyle, K. B., 1983, Speculation on Martian north polar wind circulation and the resultant orientations of polar sand dunes: Icarus, v. 55, p. 420-431.

Ward, A. W. and Greeley, Ronald, 1984, Evolution of the yardangs at Rogers Lake, California: Bull. Geol. Soc. America, v. 95, p. 829-837.

Ward, A. W., and Spudis, P. D., 1984, The tectonic environments of Martian flood lavas: XV Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Abstracts, p. 886-887.

Ward, A. W., and Spudis, P. D., 1984, Martian tectonics as evidenced by lava fissures, in Reports of Planetary Geology Program, 1984, NASA TM 87563, p. 598-600.

MacKinnon, D. J., and Ward, A. W., 1984, Computer and wind-tunnel modeling of eolian features, in NASA Reports of Planetary Geology Program, 1984, NASA TM 87563, p. 580-582.

Ward, A. W. and others, 1985, Global map of eolian features on Mars: Jour. Geophys. Res., v. 90, p. 2038-2056. Map scale 1:25,000,000.

Ward, A. W., Nealey, L. D., and Simmons, A. M., 1986, Petrology of the Mohon Mountains volcanic field, west central Arizona--a preliminary report: Arizona Geological Society Abstracts with Programs, v. l6, p. 50l.

Nealey, L. D., Ward, A. W., and Simmons, A. M., 1986, Bimodal volcanism in the Mohon Mountains volcanic field, west-central Arizona: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 18, no. 5, p. 398.

Nealey, L. D., Ward, A. W., Bartel, A. J., Vivit, D. V., and Knight, R. J., l987, Evolution and Composition of Post-40-ma volcanic rocks in Arizona: EOS, v. 68, no. 44, p. l532.

Ward, A. W., 1988, Geologic map emphasizing the surficial deposits of the Farmington 30' x 60' quadrangle, New Mexico and Colorado, USGS Map I-1978, scale 1:100,000.

Nealey, L. D. and others including Ward, A. W., 1987, Petrochemistry of rocks from the Mohon Mountain volcanic field, Yavapai and Mohave Counties, Arizona: USGS Open-File Report 86-423, 20 p.

Ward, A. W., and Nealey, L.D., 1990a, Preliminary Geologic map of the Pilot Knob Quadrangle, Yavapai and Mojave Counties, Arizona: USGS Open-File Report 90-26; 1:24,000-scale map.

Ward, A.W., and Nealey, L.D., 1990b, Preliminary geologic map of the Burro Mesa Quadrangle, Yavapai County, Arizona: USGS Open-File Report 90-212; 1:24,000.

Ward, A.W., Dixon, G.L., Galloway, D.L., and Mariano, John, 1991, Land subsidence at Edwards AFB, Mojave Desert, California: Groundwater withdrawal or neotectonics?: Geol. Soc. Amer., Abstr. w/prog., 23, 5, A477.

Simmons, A.M. and Ward, A.W., 1992, Preliminary geologic map of the Mohon Mountains Volcanic Field, west-central Arizona, USGS Open-File Report 92-198, 23-p.; map scale 1:50,000.

Ward, A.W., 1993, GSA and Ethnic Minority and Women Geoscientists, GSA Today, v. 3, no. 1, p. 11

Ward, A.W. and Dixon, G.L., 1993a, Preliminary geologic map of the Rogers Lake North Quadrangle, Kern County, California, USGS Open-File Report 93-694; map scale 1:24,000.

Ward, A.W. and Dixon, G.L., 1993b, Preliminary geologic map of the Redman Quadrangle, Los Angeles and Kern Counties, California, USGS Open-File Report 93-695; map scale 1:24,000.

Dixon, G.L. and Ward, A.W., 1993a, Preliminary geologic map of the Rogers Lake South Quadrangle, Los Angeles and Kern Counties, California, USGS Open-File Report 93-696; map scale 1:24,000.

Dixon, G.L. and Ward, A.W., 1993b, Preliminary geologic map of the Edwards Quadrangle, Kern County, California, USGS Open-File Report 93-697; map scale 1:24,000.

Ward, A.W. and Hendricks, J.D. (eds.), Geology and Geophysics of the Mohon Mountains Volcanic Field, West Central Arizona, USGS Bulletin, published someday.

Ward, A.W. and others, 1994, Geologic Setting of the East Antelope Basin, with emphasis on fissuring on Rogers Lake, Edwards AFB, Mojave Desert, CA, USGS Open-File Report 94-532, 4 p.

Ward, A.W., Dixon, G.L., and Farr, T.G., 1994, Geologic mapping and topical studies in the Victorville quadrangle: Progress report, Geol. Soc. Amer. Abstr. w/prog. , v. 26, no. 2, p. 102.

Ward, A.W., 1994, Minority leadership development for the 21st century: The Nike Model, Geol. Soc. Amer. Abstr. w/prog. , v. 26, no. 2, p. 102.

Ward, A.W., 1995, Book review of "Wind as a Geological Process": Jour. Sed. Pet., v. 56, no. 2, p. 323-324.

Ward, A.W., 1996, "Erosion on Mars" in B.F. Skinner and S.C. Porter (eds.), The Blue Planet, p.306-307, J. Wiley and Sons.

Smith, P.H. and others including A.W. Ward, 1997, Results from the Mars Pathfinder Camera, Science, 278, 5, 1758-1765

Bridges, N.L. and seven others, including A.W. Ward, 1999, Ventifacts at the Mars Pathfinder Landing site, Jour. Geophys. Res., 104, E4, 8595-8616.

Gaddis, L.R. and others including A.W. Ward, 1999, Digital Mapping of the Mars Pathfinder Landing site: Design, acquisition, and derivation of cartographic products for science applications, Jour. Geophys. Res., 104, E4, 8853-8868.

Golombek. M.P. and others including A.W. Ward, 1999, Overview of the Mars Pathfinder mission: Launch through landing, surface operations, data sets, and science results, Jour. Geophys. Res., 104, E4, 8523-8554.

Kirk, R.L. and others including A.W. Ward, 1999, Digital photogrammetric analysis of the IMP camera images: Mapping the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site in three dimensions, Jour. Geophys. Res., 104, E4, 8869-8888.

Ward, A.W. and others, 1999, General Geology and Geomorphology of the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site, Jour. Geophys. Res., 104, E4, 8555-8571.

Ward, A.W., 2001, review of "A. Tribble's Guide to Space", Eos, 82, 28.

Fenton, L.K.; Richardson, M.I.; Bandfield, J.L.; Ward, A. W.; Albee, A. L.; and Toigo, A.D., 2001, Characterization of sand dunes in Proctor Crater on Mars by application of a mesoscale model (the Mars MM5) and by development of a Graphical Information System (GIS), AGU December Meeting.

Fenton, L.K. and Ward, A. W., 2002, Geology and Geomorphology of dunes in the Noachis region, Mars; 33rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Houston.

Williams, S.H.; Zimbelman, J.R.; and Ward, A.W., 2002, Large ripples on Earth and Mars, 33rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Houston.

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