[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2099-E2100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. GORDON P. EATON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 1997

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to 
rise today and pay tribute to Dr. Gordon Eaton, who is an outstanding 
member of the Northern Virginia community. Gordon is retiring as the 
Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) which is an agency under 
the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Interior.
  The mission of USGS is to gather information for every State in order 
to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters; to 
maintain water, biological, energy and mineral resources; to enhance 
and protect the quality of life; and to contribute to sound economic 
and physical development. It is the Nation's largest natural resources 
science and civilian mapping agency. In that role, USGS must work in 
cooperation with nearly 2,000 organizations across the country to 
provide reliable, impartial information needed by resource managers and 
planners. Guiding an agency with such an important and diverse mission 
is a difficult task requiring an individual that is both management-
oriented, and has an understanding of several different scientific 
fields.

[[Page E2100]]

Gordon is a man with these skills and many more as evidenced by his 
tenure at the USGS.
  Dr. Eaton is the 12th director in the 118-year history of the USGS. 
He has headed the agency for the past 3 years and has guided USGS 
through one of its most tumultuous periods. Dr. Eaton has led the 
bureau during a time of Government downsizing and has succeeded in 
redefining the mission of USGS so it may continue as a preeminent 
science bureau into the 21st century. When he came to the USGS, it was 
facing criticism that it had outlived its mission as a Government 
agency and no longer provided valuable scientific information. Dr. 
Eaton was able to expand the public's knowledge of the many 
contributions the USGS makes as well as make the services of the bureau 
more accessible to the public. Gordon was able to communicate the need 
for change to employees who felt threatened by and out-of-touch with 
their constituency.
  Dr. Eaton helped the employees of USGS to rethink their position and 
helped the many different branches of the bureau to better coordinate 
their services. He made it a grassroots effort at the USGS as he tried 
to make sure everyone felt included in the changes at the agency. Dr. 
Eaton solicited the opinions of employees at every level in deciding 
how the agency could most effectively adapt to a new mission. Dr. 
Eaton's leadership skill and willingness to face down any challenge 
will certainly be missed by the many employees at USGS who enjoyed his 
open-door management style.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in honoring and thanking 
Gordon Eaton for his achievements in guiding the U.S. Geological Survey 
into the next century. We appreciate all of his hard work and devotion 
in making the USGS an efficiently run agency that is able to provide 
the highest level of service to the American public.

                          ____________________