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Kim Klitgord received a PhD in Oceanography from SIO in 1974. As a student in marine geophysics, he spent 'many' months
at sea with the Marine Physical Laboratory's Deeptow group. After graduating from SIO, he pursued postdoctoral research
at Cambridge University in England--broadening his research to encompass the evolution and geologic framework of the rift
systems and continental margins of Oman and Iran.
Moving back to the US in 1975, Kim spent the next 22 years as a Research Geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in
Woods Hole and later in Menlo Park. At the USGS he developed and managed continental margin studies focused on hydrocarbon
resources and earthquake hazards.
As an advisor to the DSDP/ODP for 15 years and an extensive publication record, Kim's reputation as an international expert
on the geology of continental margins and adjacent deep water basins was established. In 1989, he accepted an appointment as
the technical lead for establishing the US-Soviet cooperative marine research program, under Ned Ostenso of NOAA. Operating
through the tumultuous disintegration of the Soviet Union, Kim coordinated and participated in joint US-Russian cruises and
research initiatives, such as the US-Russian seismic survey of Siberia's Lake Baikal and subsequent onshore field studies.
In 1997 Kim left the USGS and joined ExxonMobil's New Ventures Development group in Houston, Texas. Over the past 8 years,
as a senior regional geologist, he has led the exploration for new hydrocarbon opportunities around the world and acknowledges
that the search for hydrocarbon reserves has new urgency but also increased difficulties, in both a geologic and a political
sense. Kim is meeting this challenge by applying more than 35 years of professional experience and contacts from research
across academia, government and industry. Looking back on a career path extending from SIO to ExxonMobil, Kim Klitgord reflects
on the strength and breadth of his SIO education that continues to serve him so well.
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