Robert M. Hirsch

Robert M. Hirsch is the Associate Director for Water of the U.S. Geological Survey. He is responsible for the water science programs of the USGS. These include water-related research, the collection of data on rivers and ground water, assessments of water quantity and quality. He has served as the leader of USGS water science since 1994.

He began his USGS career in 1976 as a hydrologist and has conducted research on water quality statistical methods (trends and fluxes), water supply reliability, and flood frequency analysis. He has served as: Acting Director of the USGS during an interim period between Directors (August 1993 to March 1994); Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Research and External Coordination (1989-1993); and Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior (1987-1988).

He graduated from Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Illinois, in 1967. He earned a bachelor of arts in Geology at Earlham College in 1971, an MS in Geology at the University of Washington in 1974, and a Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University from the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering in 1976. He is co-author of the textbook “Statistical Methods in Water Resources.” (available on-line at http://pubs.usgs.gov/twri/twri4a3/) Dr. Hirsch is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has been awarded the William C. Ackermann medal by the American Water Resources Association.