[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 96 (Thursday, June 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. STEPHEN WELLS

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Dr. 
Stephen Wells for his service with the Desert Research Institute, or 
DRI, after being a significant team member for 16 years. It gives me 
great pleasure to recognize his years of hard work and commitment to 
making this institute the best it can be.
  Dr. Wells earned his master's degree and doctorate in geology from 
the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. He later served as a professor of 
geomorphology and chair of the graduate program in the Department of 
Earth Sciences at the University of California, Riverside, jumpstarting 
his academic career. In 1976, he joined the University of New Mexico, 
serving as chair of the Department of Geology from 1989 to 1991. In 
both roles, Dr. Wells built internationally recognized research and 
graduate programs and enrolled 34 students into the programs.
  Beginning in 1995, Dr. Wells began his lengthy tenure with the DRI as 
executive director of the Quaternary Sciences Center. Throughout the 
next 16 years, he worked diligently to climb the ladder and became 
president of DRI, one of the world's largest multidisciplinary 
environmental research organizations, located in our great State. The 
institute has 500 scientists, technologists, students, and other staff 
working to further develop nationally recognized research. Dr. Wells 
led the institute with three core divisions and four interdisciplinary 
science centers, which serve Nevada and regions across the globe with 
innovative research. Dr. Wells also helped to build the institute to a 
$50 million per year operation, compared to the $23.8 million in 1998. 
Residents across the State are fortunate to have had someone of such 
dedication working on behalf of the institute.
  During his time in Nevada, he emerged as a true leader within our 
community. Dr. Wells served as a graduate faculty member in the 
hydrological sciences program and the Department of Geological Sciences 
at the University of Nevada, Reno. He also served as a board member of 
the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Nevada 
Development Authority. In addition, he spearheaded various initiatives 
in unmanned aircraft systems technology, as well as helping position 
Nevada as a frontrunner in advanced technologies. I have worked with 
him personally on various Nevada priorities and am thankful to have had 
him as an ally in these initiatives.
  Dr. Wells has received three national awards in recognition of his 
work: the Geological Society of America Kirk Bryan Award, the Gladys 
Cole Award, and the Geological Society of America Farouk El-Baz Award. 
These accolades are a tremendous honor, and without a doubt, Dr. Wells' 
work warrants this recognition.
  I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in thanking Dr. Wells 
for his dedication to DRI throughout the past 16 years. He exemplifies 
the highest standards of leadership and service and should be proud of 
his meaningful career. I wish him well in all of his future endeavors 
and in his new role with the New Mexico Institute of Mining and 
Technology.

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