Casey Peterson, SDSTA Board Chair, recognized with USD public service award
Casey Peterson, CPA, charter member and board chair of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, is being recognized with the 2026 University of South Dakota (USD) Public Service Award.
In 2004, then South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds appointed Casey Peterson, CPA, to the newly created South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) Board of Directors. For the past 22 years, Peterson’s dedicated leadership and service have helped grow the Sanford Underground Research Facility into a global center for scientific discovery and STEM education.
The University of South Dakota’s annual public service award recognizes those who have dedicated their time to bettering their communities and the lives of others through careers or volunteerism in government, nonprofit organizations, education, health care, advocacy, or community initiatives. The award honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on society and exemplify a lifelong commitment to serving the public good and addressing critical social needs.
“This award is so incredibly well deserved,” said Mike Headley, SDSTA executive director and laboratory director at SURF. “Casey’s leadership, vision, and longtime commitment have been critical to every major milestone we have achieved at SURF in the past 22 years. We have a bright future in advancing our mission of world-class science and education at SURF thanks to his ongoing dedication to SDSTA and SURF.”
Casey Peterson, CPA, SDSTA charter member, and board chair (right) stands next to Mike Headley the executive director of the SDSTA and the laboratory director at SURF. This 2024 image was captured just before Peterson touched off the first blast in the excavation of SURF’s expansion, located 4850 feet below the surface, that paves the way for decades of world-class research at SURF.
Photo by Matthew Kapust
In total, Casey Peterson has dedicated nearly five decades to public service across South Dakota, with contributions spanning economic development, healthcare, education, science, philanthropy, youth programs, and community development.
A graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Business, he passed the CPA examination on his first attempt prior to graduation in 1975 and founded his accounting firm in 1977. Since then, the firm has served businesses, agricultural operations, nonprofits, government entities, and families throughout the five-state region.
His service beyond SDSTA includes leadership roles with numerous healthcare, economic development, and civic organizations. He and his wife, Kathryn, have established scholarships supporting students at USD, Chadron State College, and the Kadoka Area Community Foundation. He is a recipient of the AICPA Public Service Award.
Peterson will be presented the award at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, as part of USD’s annual Dakota Days celebration. The event will take place on the James W. and Colette Abbott Court inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Read more about the event and others being recognized here.
