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Thomas Brennan Nolan

Thomas Brennan Nolan
Thomas Brennan Nolan.jpg
Nolan as Director of USGS
Born (1901-05-21)May 21, 1901
Died July 1992 (aged 91)
Washington, DC, USA
Nationality United States
Fields Petrography, Geology
Institutions US Geological Survey
7th Director of the United States Geological Survey
In office
1956 (1956) – 1965 (1965)
Preceded by William Embry Wrather
Succeeded by William Thomas Pecora

Thomas Brennan Nolan (May 21, 1901 – July, 1992) was an American geologist. The mineral nolanite is named in his honor.

After Director William Embry Wrather retired because of illness and age in 1955, Assistant Director Thomas B. Nolan became the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) seventh director in January 1956. During his 11 years as Assistant Director, Nolan had many times and for extended periods served as Acting Director so no transition period was needed. Nolan believed that geologists, because of the unique requirements imposed on them by their science, should expand their fields of interest from individual problems and "participate actively and authoritatively in the matters affecting the whole country." Until September 1965, when he resumed his research in Great Basin geology, Nolan pushed, prodded, and led the Survey to a broadened and intensified commitment to basic research, to the advancement of geology in the public service, and to the prompt publication of Survey results. As Assistant Director, he had also served as the Interior Department representative on the Interdepartmental Committee on Scientific Research and Development, on the Scientific Advisory Committee on Specialized Personnel to the Selective Service Committee, and on the Advisory Board on Education of the National Academy of Sciences, and had been president of the Society of Economic Geologists.

As Director, his professional responsibilities outside the Survey were still further extended to service as vice president and president of the Geological Society of America, as vice president of the International Union of Geological Sciences, and on committees advisory to university geology departments. In 1956, the Geological Survey began an evaluation of the effects of underground nuclear explosions at the Atomic Energy Commission's Nevada Test Site; that program was expanded to study the geologic and hydrologic conditions affecting the peaceful uses of atomic energy and the disposal of radioactive wastes.

In December 1958, Director Nolan, speaking at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, remarked that the early work of the Geological Survey had been characterized by a transition from exploration of a geographical to an intellectual frontier, but demands by younger scientists for studies of the geography of outer space might soon inaugurate a new cycle in the history of the US Geological Survey.


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