SUNY Binghamton geology graduate to lead national operations for orphaned well plugging nonprofit
Red Lodge, Mont. – [August 12, 2026] – The Well Done Foundation has announced the promotion of Josh Sandberg, P.G., a Port Jervis, New York native, to Chief Operating Officer (COO). Sandberg, a graduate of Port Jervis High School and SUNY Binghamton, will oversee field operations across Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Montana, and California.
Sandberg began his academic career studying electrical engineering at SUNY New Paltz before transferring to SUNY Binghamton, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences in 2004. His geology background has been central to his work locating and plugging orphaned oil and gas wells that leak methane and other pollutants into communities nationwide.
Prior to his promotion, Sandberg led the Well Done Foundation’s Northern Appalachia Team for a year and a half. In his new role, he will support WDF Founder Curtis Shuck and the Executive Team in expanding the organization’s national plugging operations.
“Josh has demonstrated exceptional leadership in Appalachia, and his geological expertise and operational instincts make him the right person to scale our impact across the country,” said Curtis Shuck, Founder and Chairman of the Well Done Foundation. “From Port Jervis to plugging wells coast to coast, Josh embodies the kind of dedication this work demands.”
“Growing up in Port Jervis, my time in the Boy Scouts gave me my first appreciation for the outdoors and the environment. Studying geology at Binghamton deepened that into a passion for protecting the land through science,” said Josh Sandberg. “I’m honored to take on this expanded role and help the Well Done Foundation bring its mission to more communities affected by orphaned wells.”
About the Well Done Foundation: Founded in 2019, the Well Done Foundation mitigates the threat posed by the estimated 3.5 million orphaned oil and gas wells across the United States. WDF locates, measures, plugs, and restores these sites in partnership with landowners, government agencies, corporations, and nonprofits. To date, WDF has plugged more than 120 wells, eliminating over 5 million metric tons of CO₂e emissions. Learn more at welldonefoundation.org.
Media Contact: Dave Tragethon, Communications Director, Well Done Foundation, 503.680.2685 / dave@welldonefoundation.org