Chief Larry Wickstrom

   State Geologist and Division Chief Larry Wickstrom received both B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from Kent State University. Mr. Wickstrom has been a geologist with the ODNR Division of Geological Survey since 1983, starting as a staff geologist in the former Subsurface Geology Section. He has performed many geologic investigations that have led to over 40 publications and numerous speaking engagements before professional groups. Larry was promoted to Senior Geologist and Information Technology Coordinator in 1989 and became Supervisor of the Petroleum Geology Group (now the Energy Resources Group) in 1996. He has performed research roles, project management, and supervisory duties on the state's subsurface geologic framework; oil-, gas-, and coal-bearing strata; permit reviews; and geologic investigations on Class I (hazardous and industrial waste) injection sites, geologic CO₂ sequestration, abandoned underground mines, and coalbed methane. Until recently, Larry led the division's information technology and Geographic Information Systems efforts, directing projects on conversion to digital format and digital mapping.

   In August 2006, Larry was promoted to Assistant State Geologist and Assistant Division Chief, and in November 2006, he was named acting Division Chief. Mr. Wickstrom was appointed Ohio’s 12th State Geologist and Chief of the Division of Geological Survey in February 2007 by ODNR Director Sean D. Logan.

   Larry has been principal investigator and/or project manager on many research grants from the U.S. DOE, USGS, U.S. EPA, and other government-industry consortia. He is currently the director of geology for the nine-state, U.S. DOE-funded Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP). He is an active member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Association of American State Geologists (AASG). Within the AAPG he is a speaker in the Visiting Geologists Program, past Advisory Council Representative, and a past president of the Eastern Section of the AAPG. In 2011, Larry received the AAPG Division of Environmental Geology President's Award. He is also a past president and current delegate of the Ohio Geological Society.