Smith, George O(tis) (1871–1944)

US geologist. He joined the US Geological Survey in 1896, and was its director 1907–30, except for one year on the US Coal Commission 1922–23. He became chairman of President Hoover's Federal Power Commission 1930–33. An authority on the coal and oil industries, Smith's advocacy of increased regulation of natural energy helped enact more restrictive legislation on Federal mining and land use.

He was born in Hodgdon, Maine.