BLM Canyon Country District Announces Key Leadership Changes
Nicollee Gaddis-Wyatt and Jake Palma tapped to fill important positions within the District
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
MOAB, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management announces leadership changes within the Canyon Country District in Southeast Utah; Nicollee Gaddis-Wyatt has been selected as the incoming BLM Canyon Country District Manager and Jake Palma has been named BLM Monticello Field Manager. In these roles, Gaddis-Wyatt and Palma will make important decisions about land management, recreation, conservation, and resource use on BLM-administered public lands within Grand and San Juan counties.
“Nicollee and Jake bring strong regional experience and appreciation for public lands to their new positions,” said BLM Utah State Director Greg Sheehan. “I have confidence in their abilities and am grateful for their thoughtful leadership.”
As Canyon Country District Manager, Gaddis-Wyatt now oversees 3.6-million surface acres included in the BLM Moab and Monticello Field Offices. Monticello Field Manager Palma is responsible for the administration of more than 1.8 million surface acres in San Juan County, Utah.
“I appreciate living and working in such a remarkable area,” said Canyon Country District Manager Nicollee Gaddis-Wyatt. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen relations with local government leaders, Tribal Nations, our stakeholders and the public as we work together on behalf of all Americans."
Gaddis-Wyatt began her career with the BLM in her hometown of El Centro, California in 2010. She spent almost a decade working in planning for the BLM in California and then in Las Vegas, Nevada, before coming to the BLM Monticello Field Office in a temporary assignment as acting field manager in Summer of 2018. In September of 2019, she re-joined the Canyon Country District team as the Moab Field Manager and has served in that role until her promotion. She is passionate about responsible land management and creating a supportive and welcoming environment. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cross stitching, baking and exploring public lands with her family, including her two dogs, May and Molly.
Palma joined the BLM as the Price Field Office planning and environmental coordinator in 2015. While there he worked on complex travel management planning and prepared environmental analyses. In the summer of 2019, he moved to Monticello to serve as the Bears Ears National Monument Manager and subsequently filled-in as the Monticello Field Manager in a temporary capacity before his permanent selection to the role. Palma enjoys building relationships with BLM partners and the communities that serve as gateways to public lands. He has strong eastern Oregon family roots in the small town of John Day and fond memories of growing up across the West in places like the redwoods of Northern California, Crater Lake, Lake Tahoe and the Wasatch Front. He continues to make memories on public lands with his wife and four children.
You can learn more about the Canyon Country District on the BLM website at www.blm.gov/office/canyon-country-district-office.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.