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Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze announced today that he has selected three veteran land managers to serve in state director positions in New Mexico, Nevada and California.New MexicoAmy Lueders will serve as the BLM New Mexico State Director overseeing more than 13.4 million acres of public lands and 26 million acres of federal mineral resources in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. She will report to her new post in Santa Fe later this fall.“Amy is a great leader and a natural fit to lead our work in these states,” Kornze said. “She has been at the forefront of some of our most important initiatives in recent years, and her previous leadership in New Mexico means that she will hit the ground running.”Lueders has served as the BLM Nevada State Director since 2010 and was the Nevada Associate State Director from 2004 to 2010. Prior to working in Nevada, Lueders served as the BLM’s Field Manager in Las Cruces, NM, a post she will now oversee as State Director. Lueders has most recently been on detail to the BLM ’s Washington, D.C. Office overseeing the BLM’s Greater Sage-Grouse planning effort as the Acting Assistant Director for Renewable Resources and Planning.A graduate of Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Lueders began her BLM career in 1984 in the BLM’s Washington, D.C., Office as an economist. She later held a number of budget development and program analysis positions.NevadaKornze also announced that he has selected John Ruhs as the Agency’s Nevada State Director. Ruhs will report to the BLM Nevada State Office in Reno later this fall.Ruhs, who most recently completed a detail assignment as the Acting BLM Nevada State Director, currently serves as the BLM Eastern States Director. Ruhs will lead the management of 48 million acres of public land in Nevada and 59 million acres of Federal mineral resources.“John brings a great breadth of experience with him, and a real commitment to collaboration,” Kornze said. “I look forward to having him in this key leadership position.”A native of Iowa and Marine Corps veteran, Ruhs has worked in numerous positions throughout his career, including previous stops in Nevada where he held the positions of Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, Fire Management Officer in Winnemucca, and District Manager in Ely. He also worked as the Kremmling Field Manager in Colorado, the District Manager in the High Desert District Office in Wyoming and in the BLM’s Washington, D.C. Office as an Advisor to the BLM Director. Ruhs began his federal career as a seasonal worker in Vale, Oregon and has held other positions that include stints in Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado.Ruhs received his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of Idaho. He and wife, Amy, have seven daughters. Ruhs enjoys outdoor activities including horse-riding, camping, and golfing.CaliforniaJerome (Jerry) Perez will take over the position of BLM California State Director. Perez currently serves as State Director for the BLM’s Oregon/Washington Office. He replaces Jim Kenna, who recently announced his retirement. Perez will begin his new duties in the coming weeks.“Jerry has broad experience in natural resource management both with the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service.” Kornze said. “He has a deep understanding of what it takes to balance public land uses like recreation, energy development, and the protection of wildlife habitat. I look forward to having him in this critical leadership position.”As the California State Director, Perez will oversee the management of 15.2 million acres of public lands, nearly 15 percent of the state's land area, and 1.6 million acres in northwestern Nevada. BLM California also administers 47 million acres of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal surface land, 2.5 million acres underlying privately owned land, and 592,000 acres of Native American tribal land where BLM has trust responsibility for mineral operations.Perez brings significant experience to his new position. He has served as the BLM Oregon/Washington State Director since 2012 and has also worked for the U.S. Forest Service in a number of positions that include Deputy Regional Forester for the Intermountain Region in Utah; Forest Supervisor on the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky; Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Stanislaus National Forest in California; and National Litigation Coordinator in the U.S. Forest Service Headquarters in Washington, D.C.Perez graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management. He received his law degree from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. Perez also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, Africa, where he met his wife Rita.