Nancy Schmidt named new BLM California Desert District deputy district manager

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management welcomes Nancy Schmidt as the new deputy district manager for the California Desert District. Schmidt joins the leadership responsible for the management of 11 million acres of public lands spanning eight counties in southern California. Schmidt started her position today and replaces Greg Miller, who retired in December 2023.

“Throughout her career, Nancy has been a strong leader and worked alongside communities, key stakeholders and various partners tackling oftentimes complicated issues and working collectively to implement collaborative solutions,” said Shelly Lynch, California Desert District Manager.

Schmidt enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1987 and served tours abroad in Japan, Diego Garcia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain and U.S. tours in Florida, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Washington. After serving 20 years, she retired from active duty as a surface warfare officer and has worked in civil service for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Northwest since 2009. Schmidt was previously the deputy director of operations for Navy Region Northwest managing the fire program, air and port operations programs, force protection, emergency management safety and 911 response teams. 
“I’m excited to join the BLM and work alongside the dedicated staff in the Desert District,” said Schmidt.

“I’m passionate about collaboration and open communication with the public and our partners as we work to achieve common goals and positive outcomes for our desert resources and landscapes.”

Schmidt is originally from California and has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College. In her personal time, you can find Schmidt horseback riding on local trails, exploring natural history museums, antiquing, making Dr. Seuss taxidermy out of paper mâché, and making miniatures.

The California Desert District encompasses about 11 million acres of public land rich in energy, mineral, recreational, cultural, archaeological, historical and environmental resources. The District lies within the California Desert Conservation Area, which was established by Congress in 1976 to protect the desert’s resources.