Hyperdynamics Corporation says that Ray Leonard, its President and Chief Executive Officer, has been named to the University of Arizona's Geosciences Advisory Board for a five-year term.

The board is made up of University of Arizona's Geosciences alumni who are leaders in the energy industries. It is charged with keeping the university's Department of Geosciences abreast of current developments that it should respond to on both the academic research side as well as the teaching side. The board is also tasked with providing advice on new projects the university is undertaking and potential changes in curriculum.

"I'm very honored to be invited to serve on this board, and I'm proud to be an alumnus of an exceptional institution," Leonard said.

The University of Arizona ranked No. 1 in geology in U.S. News and World Report's annual survey of U.S. graduate programs.

Leonard is a 1975 graduate of the University of Arizona, receiving a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Geosciences. He also has a Master of Arts degree in geology from the University of Texas at Austin. Leonard joined Hyperdynamics in July 2009 as CEO and is a 33-year veteran of the international oil and gas industry. He previously held executive positions in international exploration with Amoco, First International Oil Company of Kazakhstan, Yukos of Russia, MOL of Hungary and Kuwait Energy Company.

Tags: Hyperdynamics Corporation