National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

William Leith ("Bill")
Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
905 National Center
Reston, VA, 20192
(703) 648-6786
wleith@usgs.gov

Bill Leith is the Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards at USGS. In this position, he oversees the Earthquake Hazards, Geomagnetism, and Global Seismographic Network (GSN) Programs. Leith joined the USGS in 1986, after receiving a doctoral degree in seismology and geology from Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He served USGS as Chief of the USGS Special Geologic Studies Group from 1990–2001, as Senior Technical Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance, from 2001–2003, as the Coordinator of the Advanced National Seismic System from 2003–2012, and as USGS Acting Associate Director in 2010–2011.

In recent years, as Associate Coordinator of the Earthquake Hazards, Geomagnetism, and GSN Programs, Leith has led the development of the Advanced National Seismic System and the completion of the GSN. Leith has over 100 publications in the areas of seismology, geology, engineering geology, tectonics, and the applications of these subjects to earthquake safety, response and engineering, as well as to nuclear weapons testing and test monitoring, treaty verification and compliance assessments, and other military and national security interests.

Education:
Ph.D. Seismology and Geology, Columbia University
B.S. University of California at Berkeley