Groundwater Assessment Program Staff

Marlon Cook, Director
205-247-3692
mcook@gsa.state.al.us

Mr. Cook is the Manager of the Hydrogeology Group at the Geological Survey of Alabama.

Mr. Cook earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master of Science in Geology (specializing in hydrogeology) from the University of Alabama.

He worked for 8 years as an Exploration Geophysicist in oil and gas exploration in East Texas, North Louisiana State Line Trend, Mississippi Smackover Shelf, and Southwest Alabama including Mobile Bay Miocene and Norphlet. He was located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jackson Mississippi, and Houston, Texas.

He has worked for 19 years as a hydrogeologist with the Geological Survey of Alabama where he is involved in research to protect and develop the groundwater and surface-water resources of Alabama. This work includes aquifer assessments, hydrostratigraphic and geochemical analyses, watershed investigations including nonpoint source pollution, flood and sedimentation assessments, and public water supply assessments.

Steve Jennings, Geologist
205-247-3543
sjennings@gsa.state.al.us

A graduate of public schools in Pensacola, Florida, Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Masters of Science degree in geology and geological engineering from the University of Mississippi. He was employed as a petroleum exploration geologist in the southeastern U.S. from 1975 to 1986. In 1987 he made a career shift to hydrogeology, working first for the State of Mississippi and more recently for the Geological Survey of Alabama, where he conducts groundwater and surface-water investigations, hydrogeological assessments, and other research.

Neil Moss, Geologist
205-247-3557
nmoss@gsa.state.al.us

Neil grew up in Kenmore, New York, and received his Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of New Orleans and his Master of Science in Geology from the University of Alabama. Prior to his 18 years with the Geological Survey of Alabama, he worked 3 years with P.E. LaMoreaux and Associates in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Dorina Murgulet, Geologist
205-247-3567
dmurgulet@gsa.state.al.us

A native of Romania, Dorina came to the Geological Survey of Alabama in January 2009, where she is conducting hydrological investigations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Masters of Science in Geochemistry from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. She also graduated from the University of Alabama with a Master of Science degree in geology. She has recently received a Ph.D. in hydrogeology at the University of Alabama.

Information Distribution Section

Blakeney Gillett, Section Head
205-247-3693
bgillett@gsa.state.al.us

A graduate of public schools in McLean, Virginia, Blakeney holds a Bachelor of Science in geology from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in engineering hydrology from the University of Alabama. She was employed by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington D.C. from 1978 until 1980 when she took a position with the Alabama Geological Survey’s Water Resources Division conducting water use research. Blakeney spent a short time with the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama from 1981 to 1983. In 1983 she moved back to Water Resources Division. Blakeney is now in charge of the Water Distribution Section of the Groundwater Assessment Program,where she is responsible for water well records, the division web site, and answering information requests from the public, drillers, and consultants.

Ruth Collier, Cartographer
205-247-3612
rcollier@gsa.state.al.us

Ruth is a native of Tuscaloosa and attended Shelton State Community College where she received an Associates Degree in Drafting. She also attended the University of Alabama before coming to work the Geological Survey of Alabama in 1979. As a draftsperson in the Publications Division, gained insight into many of the different specialty fields of geology. When GIS became the tool for cartography, she learned computer cartography and now uses her talents in the Information Dsitribution Section producing GIS graphics and maps for many different projects.

Arthur McLin, Scientific Aide
205-247-3544
amclin@gsa.state.al.us

Arthur McLin began working for the Geological Survey of Alabama in 1976. In 1977 he started work with the U.S. Geological Survey where he learned water-sampling techniques, stream gaging and other hydrologic field skills. In 1983 he returned to the Alabama Survey stayed until his retirement in 2007. Arthur currently works on a part-time basis maintaining and operating the Survey's continuous monitoring wells.

Geochemical Analyses Section

Bob Meintzer, Section Head
205-247-3594
rmeintzer@gsa.state.al.us

Bob Meintzer grew up in Maryland and Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Geology from the University of Virginia before being commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Bob served in the Navy for 11 years before returning to the University of Virginia to earn a Master of Science in Environmental Science. He went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba. He joined the Geological Survey of Alabama in 1990 as a geologist in the Mineral Resources Division and subsequently became Chief Geochemist in charge of the Geochemical Analyses Section. In addition to overseeing the Geochemical Analyses Section, Bob also serves as Facility Manager for the Survey and on the Board of Directors for Legacy since the 1990s.

Mirza Beg, Chemist
205-247-3624
mbeg@gsa.state.al.us

Mirza Beg was raised and educated in India. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Aligarh University and a Master's degree from Roorkee University in Uttarakhand, India. He taught at Roorkee University in Uttarakhand for 6 years prior to coming the United States and joining the Geological Survey of Alabama in 1975. Mirza's work at the Survey has been broad in scope. He currently works in the Geochemical Analyses Section performing analyses on water and rocks.

Lifo Chen, Chemist
205-247-3622
lchen@gsa.state.al.us

Lifo Chen, a native of China, he graduated from Peking University in 1965 with an educational level equivalent to a Master of Science. For the next 22 years he worked as an associate Professor at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, China Scientific Academy. In 1987 he started work at Portland State University in Oregon as a visiting scholar. In 1990 he began work with the University of Alabama as as visiting scientist before starting to work at the Geological Survey of Alabama in 1996. Lifo holds six National and Shanghai Honor Awards and has published over 30 articles in China, England, and America.