Jeff Wynn

Biography

Jeff Wynn earned a BA in physics and MS in solid-state physics from Cal-Berkeley and the University of Illinois. He earned a PhD in Geoscience (Electrical Engineering thesis director) from the University of Arizona, then worked in private industry for several years. He recently retired as a GS-15/10 Research Geophysicist with the US Geological Survey, where he published over 300 books, geotechnical maps, and peer-reviewed scientific articles. He participated in the IM1 cruise in the SW Pacific with the Galileo Project in the search for Interstellar objects. Jeff also earned 3 patents on ocean geophysics (a 4th is pending). During his time in the USGS he served in a number of science leadership positions, including as Chief of the Office of Geochemistry and Geophysics (supervised 930 scientists and staff), and for three years served as the USGS Mission Chief (“Jefe del Grupo Asesor”) to Venezuela. In Venezuela Jeff lived with his family on the northern flank of the Amazonas jungle as a US State Department science diplomat (Head of Mission, grade FS-12). He also filled a similar role in Saudi Arabia, and thus speaks French, Spanish, and Arabic.  Jeff served five years as USGS Chief Scientist for Volcano Hazards, including managing the most recent eruption of Mount St Helens.  He has taught undergraduate and graduate classes as an adjunct full professor of geology at the University of Maryland (College Park, MD) and The George Washington University (Washington, DC).

Jeff manages a number of websites (see also “Books” page) , and is an associate editor for the journal “Exploration Geophysics” (Australia). He is a 6th Dan (& Shihan) in Taiho-Jutsu, and an 8th Dan (Hachidan) in Jujitsu (Granted with a Distinguished Service Award by the American Jujitsu Association Board of Directors in 2023). Jeff is a Full Spectrum Jujitsu Sensei teaching at Firstenburg Community Center and several Washington universities. He was vice president of the American Jujitsu Association (2014 – 2022).

             Jeff has earned a PADI Advanced Open-Water SCUBA license, a Certificate of Completion for Advanced Trauma Life Support at the University of Maryland Medical School, and holds

an FCC General-Class amateur radio license.

In 1998, the IAU named Asteroid 9564 Jeffwynn  (a Phocaea Group Mars-crosser) after him.