| Portrait Name Post Took office Left office Division Ref(s) | |
| - Douglass Houghton State Geologist 1837 1845 (death) First Geological Survey - | |
| Office suspended (1845–1859) - - - - - - | |
| - Alexander Winchell State Geologist March 9, 1859 1862 Second Geological Survey - | |
| Office suspended (1862–1869) - - - - - - | |
| - Alexander Winchell State Geologist April 24, 1869 April 17, 1871 Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Carl Rominger State Geologist 1871 1885 Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Charles E. Wright State Geologist 1885 1888 (death) Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Marshman E. Wadsworth State Geologist 1888 1893 Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Lucius L. Hubbard State Geologist July 3, 1893 1899 Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Alfred Church Lane State Geologist 1899 1909 Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Roland C. Allen State Geologist 1909 1919 Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Richard A. Smith State Geologist 1919 1920 Third Geological Survey Michigan Geological and Biological Survey - | |
| - Richard A. Smith Division Chief and State Geologist 1920 1946 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation - | |
| - Gerald E. Eddy Division Chief and State Geologist 1946 1951 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation - | |
| - Franklin G. Pardee Division Chief and State Geologist 1951 1952 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation - | |
| - William L. Daoust Acting State Geologist 1952 1954 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation - | |
| - William L. Daoust Division Chief and State Geologist 1954 1964 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation - | |
| - Gerald E. Eddy State Geologist 1964 1971 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources - | |
| - Arthur E. Slaughter State Geologist 1971 1976 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources - | |
| - Arthur E. Slaughter State Geologist 1976 1977 Third Geological Survey Division of Geology, Department of Natural Resources - | |
| - Arthur E. Slaughter State Geologist 1977 1981 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources - | |
| - R. Thomas Segall State Geologist 1981 1996 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources - | |
| - Harold R. Fitch State Geologist 1996 2002 Third Geological Survey Geological Survey Division, Department of Environmental Quality - | |
| - Harold R. Fitch State Geologist 2002 2004 Third Geological Survey Geological and Land Management Division, Department of Environmental Quality - | |
| - Harold R. Fitch State Geologist 2004 2011 Third Geological Survey Office of Geological Survey, Department of Environmental Quality - | |
| - Alan E. Kehew Director 2011 2013 Third Geological Survey WMU Department of Geosciences - | |
| - John A. Yellich Director 2013 — Third Geological Survey WMU Department of Geosciences - | |