Karen Mouritsen, who previously has worked in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Interior Department, will take over as the BLM Eastern States Office director on May 31, succeeding John Ruhs, who became the BLM Nevada state director last year.
Since November 2013, Mouritsen has been serving as BLM deputy assistant director for energy, minerals and realty management, where she oversaw a staff of 90 in working to develop policies and regulations. She has spent 24 years serving the federal government, having worked in the Interior Department for 10 years, beginning in 1992, before transitioning to the BLM, where she previously has served as acting New Mexico state director, acting associate district manager for the BLM Las Vegas District Ofice and Oregon’s BLM Medford District Office.
Mouritsen earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin College of Engineering and a juris doctorate degree at the University of Texas at Austin Law School.
“Mouritsen is a widely respected professional with extensive knowledge of public-land-management issues,” BLM Director Neil Kornze said. “Her diverse experience with the BLM and the Department of the Interior makes her a great choice to lead the BLM Eastern States Office.”
In her new role, Mouritsen will be responsible for managing 30,000 acres of surface real estate and more than 40 million acres of subsurface minerals and soils.
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