Millennium Magazine_5th Ed

123 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine I nspired to become a geologist by his geologist brother, Dr. Leon Theodore Silver has had an exceptional career as a researcher, educator and team member of the Apollo Program’s lunar geological exploration. Dr. Silver received a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Colorado, a Master of Science in geology from the University of New Mexico and a PhD in geology and geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology. Dr. Silver was a W.M. Keck Foundation Professor for Resource Geology at the California Institute of Technology from 1955 until his retirement in 1996, in which he was named professor emeritus. He also served as senior geologist from1969 to 1974 and junior geologist from1948 to 1955 at the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr. Silver’s main research interests include petrology, tectonics, crustal evolution, ore deposits, comparative planetology and applications of geology and isotope geochemistry to geochronology. The highlight of Dr. Silver’s career was his work with NASA. During the 1970s, Dr. Silver was involved in the lunar surface geology experiment team, lunar sample preliminary examination team, lunar surface traverse planning team, lunar science working panel and lunar sample analysis planning team for Apollo missions 13, 15 and 17. Dr. Silver became the lead geologist for the Apollo 15 experiment that launched in 1971. He considers himself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the finest groups of men and women throughout his career. Dr. Silver has been the recipient of various awards, including the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 1971, NASA Group Achievement Award for multiple teams in 1971 and 1974, the American Institute of Professional Geologists Award for Professional Excellence in 1972 and the Centennial Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of New Mexico in 1989. Additionally, Dr. Silver is member of the National Academy of Sciences, a senior fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America and a fellow of the Geological Society of America. He is a former member of the Steering Committee of the NASA Synthesis Group and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Redesign of the Space Station. LEON THEODORE SILVER W.M. KECK FOUNDATION PROFESSOR FOR RESOURCE GEOLOGY, EMERITUS California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA EDUCATION