Ken Wisian, Ph.D., Major General USAF (retired), is Associate Director, Environmental Division, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geoscience, The University of Texas at Austin. He is a geophysicist whose main research is in geothermal energy. Other current research includes planetary geology/space exploration, the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI), infrastructure resiliency and international relations. Dr Wisian teaches Life in the Universe and Geothermal Systems. Previously, Dr. Wisian was a senior state executive responsible for disaster recovery, oil spill prevention and response, and coastal infrastructure and environmental protection for Texas. Militarily, General Wisian, a navigator/bombardier, flew bombers, transports and fighters, and commanded the 147^th Reconnaissance Wing flying the MQ-1 Predator. General Wisian participated in or led military disaster response efforts for the Shuttle Columbia crash and multiple hurricanes. Ken is a graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School and has more than 70 hours of medium and high-risk test flights. General Wisian also has combat time in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, and his combat medals include the Bronze Star and Air Medal.