Leading US earth scientist

Vincent Ellis McKelvey (1916 - 1987) was a geologist who became Director of the United States Geological Survey

Vincent was an earth scientist who spent 46 years with the United States Geological Survey. He was recognized as an international authority on deep-sea mineral deposits. From 1968 to 1982, he served as scientific adviser and senior deputy to the United States delegation to the Law of the Sea Conference of the United Nations, where fellow delegates often depended on his ability to render complex scientific issues into plain English.

He joined the Geological Survey, a branch of the Department of the Interior, in 1941. He was placed in charge of its explorations for uranium after World War II, was assistant chief geologist for economic and foreign geology by 1962 and was named senior research geologist three years later. Dr. McKelvey was named chief geologist of the Geological Survey in 1971 shortly before he became its ninth director, a post he held through 1977.

He was married to Genevieve Bowman McKelvey. They had one son, Gregory McKelvey of Spokane, Washington.

1. USGS career
In 1971, after William Thomas Pecora became Under Secretary of the Interior, Chief Geologist Vincent E. McKelvey, a career scientist with the Survey since 1941, became Director. Vincent, a graduate of Syracuse University with a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, had served in several research and administrative capacities in the Geological Survey. He was internationally known for his studies of phosphates, had headed the Survey's program of exploration and research for the Atomic Energy Commission for several years, had been deeply involved in sometimes controversial estimates of long-range energy and mineral-resource needs, and had most recently been engaged in studies of seabed resources.

Vincent's term as Director was marked by an increase in multidisciplinary studies and in the diversity and complexity of Geological Survey operations, as well as an increased effort to make scientific information acquired through years of research available in a form most easily used in the solution of such contemporary problems. In 1973, the Geological Survey moved its National Headquarters from downtown Washington to a new building designed expressly for its needs in Reston, Virginia.

In 1976, Congress transferred jurisdiction of the Petroleum Reserve in Alaska from the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Interior, effective June 1, 1977.

Responsibility for administration of the continuing petroleum exploration program on the Reserve and operation of the South Barrow Gas Field was delegated to the Director of the Survey. The new activity brought with it a 50-percent increase in funds, but most of the increase was for contractual services.

In September 1977, Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus announced that he had accepted Vincent's resignation as Director but that McKelvey would remain with the Survey as a research scientist. [2] From 1978 until his death, Dr. McKelvey continued to work as senior research geologist for the Geological Survey and also taught at the Florida Institute of Technology during the early 1980s.

2. Awards and honours
    •    1963 - Distinguished Service Award, Department of the Interior [3]
    •    1972 - Career Service Award from the National Civil Service League [4]
    •    1973 - Rockefeller Public Service Award [5]
    •    1975 - Honorary Degree - Syracuse University [6]
    •    1977 - Special Award for Meritorious Service from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists [7]
    •    1977 - Distinguished Public Service Award from the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists [8]
    •    1978 - 6,680-foot-high peak in the Thiel Mountains of Antarctica was named for him by the Interior Department's Board on Geographic names
    •    1979 - Human Needs Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists [9]
    •    Honorary Degree - South Dakota School of Mines and Technology [10]
    •    There is an annual scientific symposium in his honor, the V.E. McKelvey Forum on Mineral and Energy Resources
    •    A building on the Menlo Park, California campus of the USGS is named in his honor

3. Publications
    •    "Subsea mineral resources" US Geological Survey bulletin No. 1689-A (1986)
    •    McKelvey, V. E. and Nancy A. Wright and Roger W. Bowen, "Analysis of the world distribution of metal-rich subsea manganese nodules" US Geological Survey Circular No. 886, 1983.

Citation to Vincent E. McKelvey

The Society of Exploration Geophysicists has awarded to Vincent E. McKelvey its Honorary Membership which, according to its statutes, is to be awarded in recognition of "distinguished contributions, which warrant exceptional recognition, to exploration geophysics or a related field." Underlying his formal recognition by SEG is the brilliant and dedicated career of an earth scientist who has researched many topics, and for more than six years directed the multitude of activities of one of the largest scientific organizations in this country.

     Vince was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He has a B.A. degree with Honors in Geology from Syracuse University, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin. From 1938 to 1940 he worked part-time with the Soil Conservation Service, and with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. Since 1941 he has been with the U.S. Geological Survey, rising to Chief Geologist, and in 1971 to Director, continuing in that position until 1978, when he resumed a full-time research role as Research Geologist within the Survey.
     Vince's scientific contributions already span almost four decades. They include such diverse topics as: The geology of the Phosphoria formation, the flotation of sand, mineral prospects of the Appalachian region, resource estimation, and oil well blowouts. From among his contributions the following ought to be noted in particular:
      The numerous contributions about the stratigraphy, geochemistry, origin and search for phosphate and uranium deposits.
      A broad generalization as to the relation between reserves of the elements and their crustal abundances.
      Farsighted contributions to the understanding of the mineral potential of the ocean bed.
      A new conceptual framework for the assessment of mineral resources, which has had a worldwide impact.
      A thoughtful interpretation of the role of minerals in economic development, and how mineral supply and demand interact with the level of living, population growth, and creativity.

      The numerous contributions to the factual base for the formulation of U.S. mineral policies, in particular in relation to the ocean floor.

     Beyond these contributions, another one stands out: He asserted that government scientists best serve their nation by being able to preserve their intellectual freedom and objectivity.

     Vince is widely respected both here and abroad because of his ability and integrity. His rapport with the geology of the earth is by no means finished, as indicated by the fact that this summer he headed for the west to continue the field studies he had begun many years ago. The Honorary Membership awarded by SEG to Dr. Vincent E. McKelvey is fully deserved.

     Bernardo F. Grossling