Paul M Young

Biography

Paul M. Young graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography/Cartography in 1986. In 1990 he graduated from the University of Maryland with a Masters of Arts degree in Geography. The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping and the National Geographic Society awarded him scholarships. While in college, he worked at the U.S. Bureau of the Census Geography Division where he compiled and digitized maps. Since 1986 he has worked for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). His early career at USGS included compiling topographic and geologic maps. He then worked for several years developing new computer systems used for map digitizing, image analysis, and geographic information systems (GIS). He served as the Director of the USGS Cartographic Technology Laboratory and then supervised the Applications Research Section where employees worked on a wide variety of natural resource and environmental applications and GIS projects. He served for 6 years in the USGS Office of the Director where he held a number of senior positions including as the USGS Liaison for the Office of Water and Science in the Department of the Interior. For the next 3 years Paul served as the Program Officer in the Office of Eastern Region Geography where he led long term planning including integrated science activities. Since 2005 he has been in the Office of the Regional Director. Among other duties he coordinated USGS regional science activities with National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other federal agencies, served as the Regional Science Coordinator for Geography and Bureau Approving Official, and was on the Priority Ecosystems Science National Coordinating Committee. Paul is currently the Chief Scientist for the Eastern Region. The Department of the Interior awarded him its Superior Service Award in 1995. He wrote a chapter titled “Spatial Database Revision” for Basic Cartography Volume 3 published by the International Cartographic Association in 1996. Paul is a member of the Association of American Geographers and the Cartography and Geographic Information Society (a member organization of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping) where he served for 6 years as the Secretary-Treasurer. He has taught continuing education and graduate level GIS courses at Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University since 1997.

Research Interest

cartography geospatial analysis spatial analysis