BLM Names New Leader for National Conservations Lands
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today named Christopher J. McAlear, a career public servant, to lead its National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships Directorate, which manages some of America’s most spectacular landscapes. McAlear officially takes the helm of this important national program after serving as its Deputy Director for the past four years.
His previous position was the BLM’s District Manager for Carson City District Office in Nevada where he oversaw two field offices, 5.5 million acres of public lands with a focus on renewable energy, wild horses and burros, wildland fire, recreation and numerous urban interface issues. McAlear, who has been with the BLM since 1996, has served numerous other roles across many BLM offices, including the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah and the Roseburg and Medford Field Offices in Oregon.
“Chris’s excellent experience and broad talent, as well as his proven track record of responsibly managing some of the most extraordinary public lands in our country, make him ideally suited to take on this role,” BLM Director Neil Kornze said.
McAlear also served 10 years on active duty in the U.S Navy and recently completed an additional 15 years in the Coast Guard Reserves. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation Resources and masters’ degrees in Natural Resource Communication and Management. Prior to his work with the BLM, McAlear was a faculty member at Oregon State University.
From red-rock deserts and rugged ocean coastlines to deep river canyons and broad Alaskan tundra, the BLM’s National Conservation Lands are part of an active, vibrant landscape where people live, work and play. They offer exceptional opportunities for recreation, solitude, wildlife viewing, history exploration, scientific research, and a wide range of traditional uses.
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.