Dave LePain named DGGS director; Steve Masterman retiring from post

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources said March 4 that Dave LePain has been named to succeed Steve Masterman as state geologist and director of the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.

LePain took over for Masterson on March 1, DNR said, although Masterman, who was DGGS director and state geologist for more than 8 years, will be assisting with the leadership transition until his retirement in April.

LePain has served as chief of the DGGS Energy Resources Section since 2014. His Alaska work has focused on the North Slope, including the northeast Brooks Range, as well as Cook Inlet and several Interior sedimentary basins. He began working for DGGS in 1998, leaving in 2003 to work at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and returning to DGGS in 2006.

In 2012, LePain spent a year working for Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, returning to serve as DGGS section chief for Petroleum and Energy Resources.

“I am thrilled that Dave was willing to step into this role,” said DNR Commissioner Corri Feige. “I think Alaska’s significance in energy and mineral development, and the importance of these resources to the nation, will be in sharp focus in the years ahead. Dave is highly qualified and respected in this arena and will help us seize these opportunities.”

During Masterson’s 8 years as head of DGGS, he represented the division at the state and national level to raise awareness of Alaska’s mineral and energy resource potential, sand and gravel resources, coastal erosion risks and other geologic hazards, DNR said, and represented DGGS in state, regional and national organizations, including as president of the American Association of American State Geologists.

“While I am sad to be leaving, I have greatly enjoyed my time at DGGS and I am very glad to be handing off to Dave, in whom I have great confidence,” Masterman said.

There are six program sections at DGGS: Energy Resources, Mineral Resources, Engineering Geology, Volcanology, the Geologic Information Center and the Alaska Geologic Materials Center. DGGS also oversees operations of the Alaska Geospatial Office.

The division has more than 50 fulltime employees and an annual budget exceeding $9 million.

- Petroleum News