(WESTERVILLE, OH — September 27, 2012) U.S. Geological Survey retiree Dr. Thomas E. Reilly has received a Life Member Award from the National Ground Water Association for special service in the furtherance of the groundwater industry and NGWA.
The award will be presented in December at the NGWA Groundwater Expo and Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.
Reilly worked his entire 37 years in the groundwater industry with the USGS, retiring in 2010 as a senior scientist in the Office of Groundwater.
His nominator, USGS hydrogeologist Leonard F. Konikow, Ph.D., said Reilly is a first-class researcher, teacher, and author.
“Tom’s expertise in groundwater hydraulics and simulation of groundwater systems coupled with his keen interest in training and technology transfer have benefitted new and seasoned hydrologists alike throughout USGS,” Konikow wrote.
“He was a pioneer in combining the application of environmental tracers (for age dating of groundwater) and deterministic numerical modeling of flow and solute transport to analyze and estimate recharge rates, flow rates, flowpaths, and mixing properties of a groundwater system,” he said.
Konikow noted that Reilly taught many training courses at USGS and authored about 70 publications, including notable USGS circulars such as Ground-Water Availability in the United States.
Reilly’s sacrificial spirit was another defining characteristic in his service to the groundwater industry.
“His tenure was typified by unselfish service to the USGS, to the nation, and to the groundwater industry in the form of service, consultation, training, and mentoring,” Konikow said. “Tom was often called on for special assignments to address critical and controversial groundwater issues faced by the USGS and the nation. He rose to the challenge each and every occasion.”
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NGWA, a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals — contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers — is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water.
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