Dr. Cleat Zeiler is a Research Professor at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) specializing in nuclear treaty monitoring and verification, using the science of seismology the study of earthquakes and other vibrations within the Earth to help ensure global nuclear agreements are upheld. His work sits at the intersection of geophysics and international security, applying cutting-edge scientific methods to some of the world’s most pressing peace and safety challenges.

Dr. Zeiler’s journey in geophysics began as an undergraduate researcher in 2000 at Montana Tech, a passion that led him to earn his doctorate in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2008. He went on to build a distinguished career spanning industry, government, military, and academia. He spent eleven years with the Air Force Technical Application Center (AFTAC), serving in roles including Lead Seismic Alert Duty Officer, Branch Chief of Evaluations, and Director of the Pinedale Seismic Research Facility. He then served seven years at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), contributing to global security efforts in roles ranging from Senior Principal Scientist to Thrust Area Lead.

A recognized leader in the detection and classification of seismo-acoustic events, Dr. Zeiler has been instrumental in lowering the threshold for nuclear test monitoring. He has served as an Associate Editor for the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America and as a mentor across several programs, including the DOE University Consortiums, the NNSS Summer Intern Program, the CTBTO Mentoring Programme, and DRI’s Intern Immersion effort. He currently supports Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation programs and the Community Environmental Monitoring Program. He is actively working to establish the Seismology 4 All initiative an effort close to his heart to bring seismology into high school classrooms and inspire the next generation of earth scientists.

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