In July 2009 , McNutt was announced as President Obama 's nominee to be the next director of the United States Geological Survey and science adviser to the United States Secretary of the Interior . The Senate unanimously approved her nomination on October 21 . She was the first woman to lead the USGS since its establishment in 1879 . Secretary Ken Salazar endorsed McNutt for the position . In a television interview following Obama 's announcement , McNutt said : During her first year , four major events impacted USGS in quick succession : a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Haiti , an 8.0 earthquake in Chile , the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull and the BP oil spill
a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Haiti
2010 Haiti earthquake
Marcia McNutt