Thomas Ahlbrandt - 1969

Thomas Ahlbrandt is vice president of exploration at Falcon Oil and Gas in Denver, Colorado, USA, for which he manages unconventional oil and natural gas exploration in Hungary and Australia. He previously served as CEO and chairman of the board at PetroHunter Energy Corporation, and was the World Energy Project chief for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Denver. Ahlbrandt also serves as vice chairman of the United Nations Committee Ad Hoc Group of Experts on the Supply of Fossil Fuels. A report prepared by this group to harmonize the classification of reserve and resource terminology for oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium was adopted by the U.N. in 2004.

After graduating with his B.A. (1969) and Ph.D. (1973) in geology from the University of Wyoming, Ahlbrandt spent 19 years in exploration and research with ExxonMobil, BPAmoco, Amerada, and Hess, among others.

Ahlbrandt has been named Distinguished Lecturer of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), which also gave him its Distinguished Service Award, and was given the Outstanding Scientist honor from the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.

In 2006, the Department of the Interior gave Ahlbrandt its Meritorious Service Award for his contributions to the U.S. Geological Survey in the field of Eolian sedimentology, the energy program and petroleum geology.

Ahlbrandt resides in Denver, Colorado.

Photos courtesy of UW News Service and American Heritage Center