Stephen Testa is executive officer of the California State Mining and Geology Board and has undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology. He has written more than 125 articles in the field of geology and environmental science, and has published 11 books. Testa is an expert on hydrocarbon recovery, resource recovery, and reuse and recycling of soils, sediments, and wastes. He is the past president of both the American Institute of Professional Geologists and the American Geological Institute and is president-elect of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Energy Mineral Division.