SDSU awards Mike Headley honorary doctorate
Over the past 17 years, Mike Headley’s leadership established SURF as America’s underground lab, hosting world-class science, engineering and education.
South Dakota State University (SDSU) named Mike Headley a Doctor of Science during the university’s annual spring commencement ceremony in Brookings. Headley is the executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) and laboratory director of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead.
Headley joined SURF in 2008, and his leadership established the facility as America’s Underground Lab. SURF hosts world-class research in biology, geology, physics, and engineering, alongside hosting a robust education and outreach program reaching over 22,000 students and 400 teachers annually. SURF is home to over 30 experiments including the world’s leading dark matter detector, LUX-ZEPLIN, and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, the largest experiment ever undertaken on American soil.
In his acceptance speech Headley thanked all those at the university for the nomination.
“This is an incredible honor. I’m humbled to say the least. I also want to thank my family here today for their unwavering support over the years,” Headley said. He added, “I would like to recognize the incredible colleagues I have had the honor to serve with throughout my career, specifically my colleagues at SURF. We’ve worked for nearly two decades transforming the former Homestake Gold Mine into America’s underground laboratory.”
Photo by Lisa Johansen Aust, SDSU
Headley grew up in Brookings, finished high school, and enrolled at SDSU in 1988. In the Air Force ROTC, he rose to cadet brigadier general, the highest-ranking cadet in the nation. After completing an SDSU computer science degree in 1992, he spent six years in the Air Force, receiving the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for directing a 200-member team in the National Reconnaissance Office that oversaw satellite intelligence systems.
He completed an MBA from Loyola Marymount University and joined the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Baltic, SD. At EROS, Headley managed a $280 million budget and led a 120-member team to build the next-generation Landsat satellite mission.
“I’ve been blessed with amazing opportunities—thanks to the foundation I received at SDSU. This foundation led to an incredibly rewarding career, and I’ve been blessed to spend most of it right here in South Dakota,” Headley said.
He closed with this message for graduates.
“I’d like to congratulate today’s graduates for reaching this major milestone in your lives. And, as a former ROTC cadet, I’d also like to thank the ROTC cadets here who have committed themselves to defending our nation. I wish you all every success in reaching your dreams,” Headley said.
This is not the first honor SDSU has bestowed on Headley; in 2024, the university’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering named him a Distinguished Engineer.
Headley received the honorary doctorate alongside two other prominent South Dakotans. SDSU awarded former Governor Dennis Daugaard a Doctor of Public Service and Faith Spotted Eagle a Doctor of Humane Letters. Read more in this article from SDSU and view the commencement ceremony and awards here.
