Leon Thomsen holds degrees in geophysics from Caltech (1964) and Columbia (1969). Following academic appointments at CNRS (Paris, 1969-70), Caltech (1970-72), and SUNY Binghamton (1972-80), he held industrial appointments at Amoco (1972-1999) and BP (1999-2008). Currently he serves as Chief Scientist of Delta Geophysics (http://DeltaGeophysics.net), as Research Professor at the University of Houston, and as Visiting Scientist at LBNL.

Thomsen has led technical development in applied geophysics through innovation in vector seismics (polar anisotropy, azimuthal anisotropy, azimuthal AVO, converted waves, and Life-of-Field-Seismics); in pore-pressure prediction; in ISEM and rock physics, through numerous SEG publications and presentations, and many patents.

Thomsen was an early recipient (1960-64) of an SEG Scholarship. He received SEG’s Fessenden Award in 1994, and its Maurice Ewing Medal in 2020.   He is a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and holder of their Kapitsa Medal.  He served SEG as Vice President, as President-Elect, as President (2006-07) and as BoD Chair (2018-19) of SEAM.