Installation Ceremony Held for BLM High Desert District Manager John F. Ruhs

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
High Desert District

Release Date: 07/20/09

Contacts:

Lorraine Keith 307-352-0399

Installation Ceremony Held for BLM High Desert District Manager John F. Ruhs

An installation ceremony for the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) High Desert District Manager was held July 16, 2009.

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BLM Wyoming State Director Don Simpson officially inducted John Ruhs as the head of the High Desert District. Ruhs began his career with BLM as a seasonal Range Technician in Vale, Oregon, and transferred to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he met his wife, Amy, and worked as both a Range Technician and as a Rangeland Management Specialist. From there he transferred to the BLM Eastern States, Milwaukee Field Office. While in that office he worked as a Wild Horse & Burro Specialist. The next stop was Winnemucca, where John served as a Fire Rehabilitation Manager and as the Fire Management Officer. In addition, he has gained valuable experience and insight while serving on details in several positions.

Ruhs received his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of Idaho. He and his wife Amy have seven daughters. Ruhs enjoys outdoor activities including horses, fitness, camping and golfing.

Other significant experiences in John Ruhs life include serving our country in the Marine Corps, working on farms and ranches, and time spent working as a farrier.

“I'm looking forward to working with the great staff in the High Desert District and also working with the public, state, county and local governments. It’s great to be in Wyoming with the beautiful, wide open spaces, and I look forward to the challenges and diverse opportunities ahead,” noted Ruhs.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

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High Desert District 280 Highway 191 North Rock Springs, WY 82901

Last updated: 07-20-2009