The BOEM Regional Directors Spotlight dives into the professional and personal journeys of the leaders managing our nation's offshore energy resources. Through their stories and career advice, the series offers a unique perspective on the Bureau's work and the individuals who navigate the complexities of federal service with dedication and expertise.
Describe your career before BOEM?
I always knew I wanted to serve my country. Thirty days after high school I joined the Air Force and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the U.S. Air Force Academy. After I was commissioned, I served three operational assignments as a logistics officer with one deployment. After the military I continued in logistics as a regional fleet manager for the U.S. Forest Service’s Alaska Region; I later served as a customer service director for the U.S. General Services Administration in Frankfurt, Germany and in Alaska. In that latter role I began working on energy and tribal affairs work as part of my core duties.
A few years later, the Department of Energy was looking to establish a permanent office in Alaska to serve Tribal energy needs and I was hired as the first career staff member in that program office. Over the subsequent years I continued to rise through the ranks. ultimately serving as the senior advisor to the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs and detailed for nearly three years to the Arctic Energy Office before joining BOEM in 2023.
What brought you to BOEM?
When I separated from the military, I decided I would work towards being a senior leader within civil service. I took opportunities as they came including grad school, Senior Executive Service (SES) development and the Office of Personnel Management Leadership for a Democratic Society course. Former Alaska Region Director Jim Kendall’s transfer to BOEM’s Gulf of Mexico Region opened an SES vacancy in the energy world with a significant commitment to Alaska Native affairs – which, of course, struck me as the perfect alignment of my education and experience. I was also drawn by this agency’s responsibilities in the Arctic, which involve a lot of communication and collaboration with the amazingly diverse set of agencies, communities and people with equities there. The Arctic is one of the most unique and important areas on Earth, and BOEM’s role there is vital.
What is your role in the Bureau?
I am the BOEM Alaska Regional Director. In that capacity I oversee a staff of about 50 -- mostly on location at our Anchorage office but with a few remote employees as well. We have a robust and experience staff here with a wide range of experience and backgrounds, many tasked with overseeing a shift in focus from our historical mission of oil and gas to an exploration of the possibilities for renewable energy. And of course we are very proud of our Environmental Studies Program: Since 1973, the Alaska Region has been one of Alaska’s largest funders of marine science, investing nearly half a billion dollars into better understanding this state’s unique marine environments.
What advice would you give others pursuing a similar career?
Rarely is there one specific approved career path! Take opportunities as they arise and blossom where you are planted. You never know when past opportunities or positions you’ve had will come to benefit you in the future. Public service is a special calling and getting in the right mindset helps you stay motivated.
I’d also highlight the importance of leadership training and experience. Take it whenever and wherever you can! None of us are irreplaceable, and as I see it, an important role of any organizational leader is to prepare people to step up and take charge when the occasion arises.
Lastly, why BOEM?
Across my 27-year career I have worked for five diverse federal agencies. With its specialized mission, BOEM has been by far the smallest, which has presented some interesting and up-close learning opportunities. I like the chance to work with many great subject matter experts and leaders across the bureau. I have been welcomed and supported by many BOEM staff members, who have happily lent their time and effort to help me learn this agency’s specific nuances. Thanks largely to that help, I feel like each day I’m learning more how to become more effective in my role.
I also like being in BOEM's Alaska Region during a time of change. Those times give organizations the opportunity to define themselves and make themselves relevant. That's particularly true in Alaska and the Arctic, which have enormous economic and geopolitical importance. I like leading change. It's given the Alaska Region the opportunity to cement BOEM’s Arctic future; crafting a vision and bring everyone together, rowing in the same direction, to realize that vision.