Bob Swithers Named the New BLM Southeastern States District Manager
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FLOWOOD, MS. - The Bureau of Land Management has selected Robert “Bob” Swithers as the new District Manager for the Southeastern States District Office in Flowood, Mississippi. He began his duties on September 4, 2018. Bob comes to BLM from the U.S. Forest Service where he was the supervisory staff officer in the National Forest of Mississippi and on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Bob had direct oversight for programs throughout the natural resource area including fire, minerals, special uses, and land management planning.
Bob is a retired military officer with 26 years in the U.S. Army. He has led international, national, and community-based projects while serving as a senior advisor to the Department of Defense, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), specializing in the protection of critical and cultural infrastructure. He is a subject matter expert for community disaster relief planning and follow-up post event recovery efforts, with previous assignments in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Indiana.
“Bob’s strong background in strategic planning will be a great asset for the district, especially as we move forward with several important ongoing projects,” stated Mitch Leverette, acting state director, BLM – Eastern States.
“I am very excited about the new opportunities and challenges that the position of District Manager provides on several multiple-use projects,” Swithers said. “I look forward to meeting with our partners and getting to work.”
The BLM Southeastern States District is responsible for the stewardship of public lands and resources under the jurisdiction of the BLM in the 11 southeastern states adjoining and east of the Mississippi River. These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Swithers fills the position previously held by Bruce Dawson, who retired in 2017.
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.