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A close-focus portrait of Bill Derrenbacher wearing wire-framed glasses and a blue suit with a stylized sepia-toned map in the background

Bill Derrenbacher

A leader and driving force in modern-day applied geography, Bill Derrenbacher has played a significant role in the proliferation of GIS worldwide. A pioneer in geoanalytics, he has designed geospatial data methods and tools that have become catalysts for a better understanding of the real world and for enabling better decision making.

The Association of American Geographers (AAG) awarded Bill Derrenbacher the 2015 James R. Anderson Medal of Honor in Applied Geography for his distinguished service and contributions to the advancement of the profession.