Christopher C Skinner
Geospatial Data Management • Data Science • Data Architect
About
Senior Geospatial Administrator with 20+ years leading enterprise GIS and Data platforms in energy and environmental domains. Expert in ArcGIS Enterprise, SQL Server, and Python with a focus on automation, integration, and metadata strategy. Proven track record modernizing legacy systems and aligning spatial data workflows with business goals.
Work Experience
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Energy Resources Program
Denver, CO
January 2022 – August 2025
Data Management and Data Science Lead
Highlights
- Modernized enterprise spatial systems to support secure, scalable GIS services.
- Directed team efforts in ArcGIS Enterprise architecture and administration.
- Built spatial data models and automated pipelines for multi-theme datasets.
- Led GIS metadata standards adoption across geoscience teams.
- Partnered with IT to optimize infrastructure and system performance.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Energy Resources Program
Denver, CO
January 2013 – August 2025
Energy Program Database Task Lead
Highlights
- Managed $2.7M/year upstream data contract across oil & gas, geothermal, and CCUS.
- Integrated proprietary/vendor datasets into Kingdom and ArcGIS via SQL and Python.
- Produced dashboards and spatial apps for compliance and reporting.
- Maintained quality control protocols and coordinated access control policies.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Energy Resources Program
Denver, CO
January 1999 – December 2021
IT Specialist (Geospatial Database Management)
Highlights
- Designed spatial databases and automated geoprocessing with Python and SQL.
- Supported ArcGIS Server and enterprise geodatabase administration.
- Integrated legacy and cloud systems for public-facing data applications.
- Promoted data stewardship and accessibility through outreach and training.
Awards
-
July 2003
Esri
Esri Special Achievement in GIS Award
Presented by President Jack Dangermond for innovation and impact in enterprise geospatial systems.
Projects
- Geological Hydrogen Explorer:
- U.S. Aggregated Oil and Gas Drilling and History:
- NPR-A Seismic and Well Archive:
- Orphaned Wells and Groundwater Quality:
Contact
Denver, Colorado
303-594-5127
Education
-
2001 2003
University of Colorado Denver
M.S.
Civil Engineering – Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
-
1993 1998
Colorado State University
B.S.
Natural Resource Management (GIS Minor)
Skills
GIS Architecture
ArcGIS Enterprise
Portal
Server
Data Store
ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Online
Databases
SQL Server
Geospatial schemas
Enterprise Geodatabases
Programming & Automation
Python
ArcPy
SQL
FME
Deployment & Ops
Dev/Test/Prod
Federated GIS
REST APIs
Interoperability
Energy Domain
Oil & Gas
CCUS
Water
Geothermal
Land
Metadata & Governance
Standards
Documentation
Stakeholder engagement
Publications
Central Energy Resources Team Data Management — A Data Management Life-Cycle
USGS Fact Sheet FS-163-00
01 January 2000
USGS Fact Sheet — —
USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment Online
ArcUser Magazine (Oct–Dec 2002)
01 January 2002
Article — —
USGS National Oil and Gas Assessment Online (NOGA Online)
Esri User Conference Proceedings
01 January 2002
Conference paper — San Diego, CA
ArcIMS in a Secure, Multi-Author Production Environment
Esri User Conference Abstracts
01 January 2003
Conference abstract — San Diego, CA
USGS National Assessment of Oil and Gas Online (NOGA Online)
GIS Activities in the Central Energy Resources Team: A Model for Expanding GIS Utilization
USGS Fifth Biennial GIS Workshop (published in SIR 2005–5236)
01 January 2004
Conference presentation (abstract in proceedings) — Denver, CO
Content Delivery and Discovery Using Metadata Services
Esri User Conference (Professional Papers)
01 January 2005
Conference presentation — San Diego, CA
Discovering USGS Energy Program Content Through the Web Using Metadata Services
Esri User Conference Abstracts
01 January 2005
Conference abstract — San Diego, CA
Habitat Needs Assessment Geographic Information System Query Tool for the Upper Mississippi River System
USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5117
01 January 2005
USGS report — —
World Energy Products (WEP) Portal
Esri Petroleum User Group (PUG) Conference
01 January 2005
Conference presentation — Houston, TX
GIS Activities in the USGS Central Energy Resources Team: A Model for Expanding GIS Utilization
AAPG Annual Convention
01 January 2006
Poster (extended abstract) — Houston, TX
Oracle and ArcSDE Deployment with Linux Red Hat and Dell Server Architecture
Esri International User Conference — Track: System Implementation for GIS
01 January 2006
Conference presentation (abstract) — San Diego, CA
USGS Energy Program Geoinformatics: From Data Management to Information Services
Geoinformatics Conference
01 January 2007
Conference abstract — San Diego, CA
USGS Oil and Gas Assessment Explorer: An Interactive Web Application to Discover USGS Assessment Research
Esri Petroleum Users Group (PUG) Meeting
01 January 2008
Conference abstract — Houston, TX
USGS Oil and Gas Assessment Explorer: an Interactive Web Application to Access USGS Assessment Research
USGS Seventh Biennial GIS Workshop (SIR 2008–5074)
01 January 2008
Conference presentation (abstract in proceedings) — Denver, CO
The GIS Project for the Geologic Assessment of In-Place Oil Shale Resources of the Piceance Basin, Colorado (Chapter 4)
USGS DDS-69-Y
01 January 2010
USGS DDS Chapter — —
The GIS Project for the Geologic Assessment of In-Place Oil Shale Resources of the Uinta Basin, Utah and Colorado (Chapter 4)
USGS DDS-69-BB
01 January 2010
USGS DDS Chapter — —
Oil shale resources of the Eocene Green River Formation, Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah
USGS DDS (linked from staff profile)
01 January 2011
USGS digital data series (CD-ROM) — —
The GIS Project for the Geologic Assessment of In-Place Oil Shale Resources of the Green River Formation, Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah (Chapter 3)
USGS DDS-69-DD
01 January 2011
USGS DDS Chapter — —
PPDM Denver Q4 Data Management Luncheon — Bureau of Reclamation Hydraulic Laboratory tour
PPDM Denver Data Management Luncheon (Q4)
01 January 2015
Organizer/Facilitator (tour) — Denver, CO
PPDM Denver Leadership Team — Q3 Luncheon & Denver Data Management Workshop involvement
PPDM Denver
01 January 2016
Leadership (chapter/organizing) — Denver, CO
PPDM Denver Q2 Data Management Luncheon at USGS (Denver Federal Center)
PPDM Denver Data Management Luncheon (Q2)
01 January 2017
Host/Organizer — Lakewood, CO
PPDM Denver Petroleum Data Symposium — Morning Break (Facilitator)
PPDM Denver Petroleum Data Symposium
01 January 2018
Facilitator/Leadership — Denver, CO
PPDM Denver Petroleum Data Symposium — Denver Leadership Team acknowledgement
PPDM Denver Petroleum Data Symposium
01 January 2019
Leadership (chapter) — Denver, CO
Central Energy Resources Science Center (CERSC) Data Management Services Project (DMSP) Overview
USGS CDI Workshop 2021
01 January 2021
Poster (digital) — —
A snapshot of stakeholder science needs related to drought in the Colorado River Basin
U.S. Geological Survey Data Release (ScienceBase)
01 January 2021
USGS Data Release — —
Aggregated Oil and Natural Gas Drilling and Production History of the United States (ver. 1.1, April 2023)
USGS ScienceBase Data Release
01 January 2022
USGS data release — —
Metadata Show and Tell (Spatial) — USGS CDI Monthly Meeting (July 1, 2024)
USGS Community for Data Integration (CDI)
01 January 2024
Talk (Lightning/Show & Tell) — —
Data Release for Prospectivity Mapping for Geologic Hydrogen
USGS Data Release (DOI:10.5066/P13WCG5U)
01 January 2025
USGS data release — —
Interests
Mountain Biking
Artificial Intelligence