Peter Chirico, Phd Email & Phone Number

Reston, Va

I serve as deputy to the Science Center Director and assist with scientific planning, supervision, and management of interdisciplinary team of over 100 geoscientists, technical specialists, laboratory staff, and support personnel. I focus on developing cooperative scientific agreements and strategic engagement with other Federal, State, and private sector/non-government partners. I also maintain my own research portfolio of scientific projects utilizing geomorphological mapping and remote sensing techniques for natural resource and critical/conflict mineral deposit modelling and monitoring.

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

I acted as the Scientific and Technical Advisor on Conflict Minerals to the Office of Threat Finance Countermeasures in the Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs through an Interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). I provided geologic, scientific, and technical support to the Department of State, USAID, and the Kimberly Process (KP) to stem the flow of conflict minerals and diamonds into the international market. This research employed field and advanced remote sensing analysis to map and monitor activity of small-scale artisanal mining activities in western and central Africa to achieve a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the geologic, social, and economic contexts of artisanal and small-scale mining.

Georgetown, Guyana

I directed a multi-agency team of specialists and experts from US government and the Government of Guyana in mapping and monitoring small-scale gold mining, deforestation, and associated environmental impacts using advanced remote sensing and geospatial data processing techniques.

Reston, Virginia, United States

I developed research and applications of digital terrain modeling techniques, GIS methods, and remote sensing data to study and map the geomorphology and geology of international areas of interest for the USGS, US Department of State, and USAID. The main focus of this research was mapping alluvial diamond and gold deposits and mine sites in Africa, Asia and South America. Participated in, and have led, field mapping expeditions to the Central African Republic, Mali, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea to describe and verify artisanal mining activities. This work was in direct support to the Kimberley Process and the US Clean Diamond Trade Act. Additional research was focused on the geomorphology and geology of mining and land use features in Afghanistan to support reconstruction and mineral resource inventories. This included field assessments and terrain modelling of the Kajakai Dam and Reservoir in southwestern Afghanistan for hydropower and agricultural land use investigations.

Reston, Virginia, United States

I served as coordinator of GIS staff and developed analytic capabilities within a complex multi-disciplinary team of research scientists engaged in geologic mapping, landslide hazards mapping, and paleo-climate science studies. I identified staffing needs, developed training plans, and developed innovative methods and procedures to support geospatial data processing needs for the Team.I also served as team member on several USGS international scientific projects supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations (UN), and the World Bank focused on geologic hazards, spatial data infrastructure, and remote sensing science applications. From 1998 to 2003, I led a team of USGS personnel developing digital ortho-photography, DEMs, and GPS ground control of over 70 municipalities in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua affected by widespread landslides and flooding as a result of the Hurricane Mitch disaster in 1998.

Reston, Virginia, United States

I developed GIS databases of geologic map and landslide hazard information for the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) and regional mapping initiatives. Performed map database development using Arc/Info in UNIX based environment, developed and implemented Arc AML programming to automate the conversion and production of geologic map database information.

Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States

In addition to full time research at the USGS, I was an adjunct faculty instructor at the University of Mary Washington's Geography Department in Fredericksburg, VA from 2006-2010 where I taught courses on Human Impact on the Environment, Aerial Photo Interpretation and Remote Sensing, as well as assisting in supervising student undergraduate research.Courses taught: GEOG 245 - Geography of the Human Environment (Environment and Society)GEOG 340B - Remote Sensing and Air Photo Interpretation, w/labGEOG URES197 - Undergraduate Research Experience

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Geography And Environmental Systems

Ma, Geography

Ba, Geography