Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday that he has appointed ExxonMobil scientist Stefan Hussenoeder to the state’s earthquake monitoring advisory panel.
The appointment positions the oil industry veteran to influence Texas seismic surveillance policy.
The TexNet Technical Advisory Committee guides funding decisions for the state’s earthquake monitoring network. Texas has experienced increased seismic activity in recent years linked to oil and gas operations.
Hussenoeder brings 27 years of petroleum industry experience to the role. He currently serves as injection and seismicity advisor for ExxonMobil’s Upstream organization.
The Sugar Land resident chairs the Texas Seismicity and Water Partnership’s permitting subcommittee. He also leads the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association’s Deep Disposal and Seismic Workgroup.
His term expires at the governor’s discretion. The committee advises the Bureau of Economic Geology on monitoring program funding and university research partnerships.
Hussenoeder earned his geophysics degree from Saint Louis University. He completed his doctorate in marine geophysics at the MIT – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
The committee must prepare status reports for the governor and the state legislature. Its recommendations shape how Texas tracks and responds to earthquake activity across the state.