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The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) is pleased to announce that Thomas Wilker has been appointed as its new executive director. A longstanding member of AAPG, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), and the Houston Geological Society (HGS), Wilker brings a wealth of experience, established business acumen, and a passion for the geosciences to the position.

Prior to joining AAPG, Wilker has had an impressive career in the private sector, including former leadership roles at Devon Energy, Burlington Resources, The Carlyle Group, and EP Energy. Most recently, he was the chief operating officer for PetroSkills, where he successfully led operations and contributed to the company’s continued growth. Before joining PetroSkills, Wilker served as senior vice president, subsurface at Wood Mackenzie. There, he oversaw several product lines and directed more than 70 subject matter expert employees comprised of geologists, engineers, GIS professionals, technical sales personnel, product managers, and data scientists.

Wilker is also the president and founder of his own energy consultancy, Curator Upstream, based in The Woodlands, Texas and is a Texas State Licensed Geophysicist.

His unique combination of strategic leadership and geoscientific expertise makes him well-equipped to guide AAPG into its next phase of growth and innovation. "Tom has all the business skill sets and foundational geoscience knowledge that we were looking for to move AAPG forward," said Deborah Sacrey, AAPG president. "We know he will be a great asset for the organization for many years to come."

Wilker holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from California Lutheran University, and a master’s degree in geology from the South Dakota School of Mines.

“I am excited to take on this new role and look forward to working alongside such a dedicated and passionate group of geoscientists,” said Wilker. “AAPG has long been a cornerstone of the geosciences community, and I’m anxious to contribute to its mission and help shape its future.”

Wilker will begin his new position as executive director on 5 May 2025.