BLM Alaska bids farewell to State Director Bud Cribley
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Bureau of Land Management is saying farewell to Alaska State Director Bud Cribley, who has served in his position for nearly seven years. Cribley is transferring to serve as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Senior Advisor for Energy in Washington, D.C.
“I’ve enjoyed a multitude of situations since my arrival in November 2010,” said Cribley. “It has been a privilege to serve and move forward many projects of significant importance to Alaska and the Nation, such as signing the Record of Decision for the Greater Mooses Tooth 1 development securing the first oil production on federal lands in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and ensuring the successful remediation of 24 priority legacy wells and furthering our commitments in Alaska. Most importantly, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most dedicated and professional individuals, both inside and outside BLM, who truly care about Alaska and all it has to offer.”
Cribley came to Alaska in 2010, and is the second longest-serving state director at BLM Alaska. He joined the BLM in 1975 as a forestry technician in the Arizona Strip District in northwest Arizona, and has more than 40 years of dedicated service to the BLM.
In Cribley’s place, the BLM announced that Karen Mouritsen will serve as Acting State Director for Alaska.
Mouritsen, whose assignment was announced Aug. 17, is currently serving as BLM Eastern States Director. She is an experienced leader at BLM, having served as Acting New Mexico State Director and Acting Associate District Manager for the BLM Las Vegas, and Medford, Ore., district offices. She also served the BLM as Deputy Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals and Realty Management, where she was responsible for helping develop agency policies and regulations for the BLM’s energy and minerals programs.
“I’m looking forward to serving in Alaska and exploring its unique opportunities of public land management and working collaboratively with such a diverse set of stakeholders,” said Mouritsen. “Having visited Alaska only briefly in the past, I look forward to exploring in-depth all of Alaska’s issues and opportunities.”
Prior to joining the BLM, Mouritsen worked in the private sector as a petroleum engineer, and was an attorney in the Office of the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior.
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.