Richard A SearsRichard A. Sears is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Energy Resources Engineering at Stanford University. He began his career as a geophysicist with Shell Oil Company in 1976. During his 33 years with Shell Oil Co. and Royal Dutch Shell, he hel technical and managerial positions including exploration geophysicist, technical instructor, economist, strategic advisor and planner, and general management. He spent seven years as Vice President, Global Subsurface Deepwater Technical Services. He was Chief Scientist of the National Oil Spill Commission and is a co-author of the Commission's Chief Counsel's Report which details the technical and managerial failures leading to the Deepwater Horizon blowout and spill, and has served on several committees through the National Academy of Engineering, advising the US Government on safety in offshore energy operations. He received his BS in physics and MS in geophysics from Stanford University, is a licensed Professional Geoscientist, and is a National Associate of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Read More Read Less