NRCS Soil Scientists Honored

Three NRCS soil scientists and an Ohio State University soil science professor will be recognized at this year’s Soil Science Society of America’s annual meeting. Anthony Khiel, soil scientist in the Sevierville, Tennessee field office and Douglas Thomas, soil scientist in the Waynesville, North Carolina field office have been named co-recipients of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) Soil Scientist of the Year Award and William “Rob” Knight, soil scientist in the Greensburg, Pennsylvania, field office is the recipient of the NCSS Soil Scientist Achievement Award. Also being recognized is Dr. Neil Smeck, Professor, Soil Science, Ohio State University, recipient of the NCSS Cooperator Achievement Award.

Khiel and Thomas were honored for their work as project leaders for the soil survey work currently being done in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The teamwork and coordination developed and implemented by them resulted in the mapping of more than 350,000 acres.

Knight is being honored for his high quality soil survey products, applied technology and innovation as a project leader for five soil surveys in Pennsylvania, and for completing four soil survey manuscripts covering more than 2 million acres while updating and maintaining soil surveys in 15 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.

These three individuals will receive their awards at the Soil Scientist Society of America’s annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, in November. This meeting is held jointly with the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America.
Your contact is Linda Greene, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 202-720-7881.