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The New Year begins with a change in one of the top leadership positions in the Montana/Dakotas State Office of the Bureau of Land Management.Jon Raby recently joined the staff as the Associate State Director, filling the post vacated this past December by the retirement of Kate Kitchell."We're excited to have Jon join our team here at the BLM Montana/Dakotas States Office," said State Director Jamie Connell. "Jon has the enthusiasm, dedication and experience to excel as one of the stewards of the public's vast resources."As the Associate State Director, Jon oversees the internal operations for Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota for the bureau, which manages 8.3 million acres of federal lands and over 47 million acres of federal mineral estate.Jon's career in federal service began over 25 years ago and includes 20 years with the BLM. In addition to the BLM, Jon has also worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.Jon has also held several important assignments in recent years, including BLM Liaison to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, and as Chief of Staff in the BLM Director's Office in Washington, D.C. Immediately prior to coming to Billings, Jon served as the Associate District Manager for the BLM's Medford District in Oregon.Jon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Ohio Northern University. His wife Glendora and youngest daughter Drew will be joining him in Billings as they move from Oregon. Jon's oldest daughter Alesha lives with her husband Clinton and their two daughters in Oregon. Jon enjoys all types of outdoor activities and is an avid hunter, angler, and blackpowder shooting sports enthusiast.