Jonathan Godt is the coordinator of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Program and is responsible for direction and priorities of the only federal program devoted to landslide science and risk reduction. His research focus on understanding the physical processes controlling landslide initiation has informed technical assistance to partners in response to crises domestically and abroad. Godt has been with the USGS since 1996 and took over the coordinator duties in 2014. He holds a PhD in geography from the University of Colorado.