Leadership
The BLM's national and state leaders bring a combination of innovation and experience to the organization. Together, leaders and employees work side-by-side daily to manage the public lands as working landscapes that support a greater America. Our multiple-use mandate ensures healthy, productive public lands for current and future generations. Learn more about the BLM's top leadership below.
Headquarters Leadership
- Director
Vacant
BLM Director
- Principal Deputy Director
Vacant
Principal Deputy Director
- Deputy Director, Administration and Programs
Michael D. Nedd
Deputy Director, Administration and ProgramsAs Deputy Director for Administration and Programs, Mike Nedd oversees the BLM’s daily activities and initiatives and more than 9,000 employees, located mostly in the western states.- Deputy Director, State Operations
Vacant
- Director for Law Enforcement and Security
Jason O’Neal
Director of the Office of Law Enforcement and SecurityJason O’Neal became the BLM’s Director of the Office of Law Enforcement and Security in May 2022.- Director of Office of Civil Rights
La Shon Cole
Director of the Office of Civil RightsLa Shon D. Cole joined the BLM in December 2020 as the Director of the Office of Civil Rights.- Director of National Operations Center
Tom Workman
Director of National Operations CenterTom Workman became BLM’s Director for the National Operations Center in October 2022.- Chief of Staff
Kristen Lenhardt (acting)
- Assistant Director for Fire and Aviation at the National Interagency Fire Center
Grant Beebe
Assistant Director for Fire and Aviation at the National Interagency Fire CenterGrant Beebe became the BLM’s Assistant Director for Fire and Aviation in February 2020- Assistant Director for Resources and Planning
Sharif Branham
Assistant Director of Resources and PlanningIn October 2023, Sharif Branham comes to BLM as the Assistant Director for Resources and Planning. Over the previous four years, he served as Director of the Strategic Support Services
- Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management
Mitchell Leverette
Acting Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals, and Realty ManagementMitch Leverette is currently the Acting Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management.- Assistant Director for National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships
Thomas Heinlein
Assistant Director for National Conservation Lands and Community PartnershipsTom Heinlein became the Assistant Director for National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships in March 2023.- Assistant Director for Information Management and Technology
Jim Rolfes
Assistant Director for Information Management and TechnologyJim Rolfes stepped in as the Assistant Director for Information Management and Technology in September 2022.- Assistant Director for Communications
Jeff Krauss
Assistant Director for CommunicationsJeff Krauss became Assistant Director for Communications in August 2023.- Assistant Director for Business Management and Administration
Matt Shugert (acting)
State Directors
- Alaska State Director
Kevin Pendergast
Alaska State DirectorAs the State Director for the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska, Kevin Pendergast oversees the management of 70 million acres of public lands and 220 million subsurface acres of the federal mineral estate, statewide wildfire suppression efforts, and a complex land transfer program.- Arizona State Director
Raymond Suazo
BLM Arizona State DirectorRay Suazo became the BLM Arizona State Director in 2012.- California State Director
Joseph Stout
BLM California State DirectorAs the BLM California State Director, Joseph Stout is responsible for overseeing the management of 15 million acres of public lands in California and 1.6 million acres of public lands
- Colorado State Director
Doug Vilsack
BLM Colorado State DirectorDoug Vilsack became the BLM Colorado State Director in August 2022- Eastern States State Director
Leah Baker
Acting BLM Eastern States DirectorLeah Baker stepped into the Acting Director for Eastern States in April 2025. Over the past six years, Baker has served as the Associate State Director at Eastern States.- Idaho State Director
June Shoemaker
Acting BLM Idaho State Director
- Montana-Dakotas State Director
Sonya Germann
Montana-Dakotas State DirectorBorn in Montana and raised on a ranch, Germann first went to work for DNRC in 2004 as a part-time staff person in the Forestry Division’s seedling nursery.- Nevada State Director
Jon Raby
BLM Nevada State DirectorJon Raby is the State Director for the BLM in Nevada.- New Mexico State Director
Melanie Barnes
BLM New Mexico State DirectorMelanie Barnes is the State Director for the Bureau of Land Management in New Mexico.- Oregon-Washington State Director
Barry Bushue
BLM Oregon-Washington State DirectorBarry Bushue became the BLM’s State Director for Oregon and Washington after working for the Oregon Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he served as the State Executive Director.- Utah State Director
Jerry Davis
Acting Utah State DirectorAs BLM's Acting State Director in Utah, Jerry Davis leads a team that administers nearly 22.9 million acres of public lands, representing about 42% of the state.- Acting Wyoming State Director
Kris Kirby
