New BLM Director

New BLM Director

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
John Ruhs will be the next Idaho BLM Director, according to the Department of Interior. Ruhs of Boise is a veteran BLM land manager with more than three decades of experience across many BLM programs. The new Director will leave his current position as Assistant Director for Fire and Aviation at the National Interagency Fire Center in mid-March to become State Director.

Ruhs started his BLM career as a seasonal Range Technician in Vale, Oregon, in the 1980s. Since that time, he has worked in many resource management and leadership roles at BLM offices in Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and Washington. D.C. In Washington he served as Acting BLM Deputy Director for Operations overseeing many day-to-day operations of the agency. He also served as State Director in Nevada and for the Eastern States Office, which covers lands in states along and east of the Mississippi River.

Ruhs experience is tailor-made for Idaho and  includes extensive work fire management programs, rangeland and grazing and wild horses and burros and mineral leasing. Ruhs received a bachelor of science degree in animal science from the University of Idaho. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Deputy Director for Policy and Programs Brian Steed will continue to oversee policy and to exercise the authority of the Director until a permanent Director is nominated and confirmed.

The BLM manages approximately 12 million acres of public land in Idaho for multiple uses, including livestock grazing, mining, conservation and recreation.

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