Keynote Speakers

Wednesday, February 20

Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Department of the Interior
"Enabling Us All to Do More and More"

Geospatial information and technology are enabling scientists, policy makers, and the public to envision a world where more people will be fed, more resources will be protected, more diseases will be mitigated or prevented, and more lives will be saved from environmental disasters. Long dedicated to public service as a highly successful mayor of Boise, Idaho; senator and governor of Idaho; and now Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI), Dirk Kempthorne demonstrates a passion for finding solutions to complex problems: "I believe if you leave rhetoric behind and instead focus on results, everyone can share the credit and you're going to accomplish a whole lot more." Lauded by his colleagues as a "consensus builder," the Secretary will share his thoughts via video presentation.

James Cason, Associate Deputy Secretary of the
Department of the Interior
"Getting Our Geospatial House(s) in Order"

To lead this charge and implement this enterprise GIS vision, Secretary Kempthorne has designated Jim Cason the Department's Senior Agency Official for Geospatial Information (SAOGI). In this capacity, Cason has brought new enthusiasm to his role as chair of the FGDC Steering Committee and will be the Secretary's lead on the newly formed National Geospatial Advisory Committee. DOI is taking concrete steps to align its own geospatial responsibilities and play a leadership role in OMB's federal government-wide geospatial line of business activities.