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The Bureau of Land Management announced today that Edwin L. Roberson, currently Assistant Director for Renewable Resources and Planning in Washington, D.C., will be the new Director of the BLM's National Operations Center in Denver."I am pleased to announce that Ed, who has successfully overseen key BLM resource-related programs during his tenure, including the BLM's sage-grouse conservation effort, will now take his managerial talents to the National Operations Center (NOC)," said BLM Director Neil Kornze. "As a seasoned BLM leader, Ed will guide the NOC to provide technical support to BLM offices and the general public."Roberson, a 35-year BLM veteran, has served in his current position since August 2007. He has been the BLM's point person on sage-grouse habitat conservation as part of the BLM's effort to avert the need for listing the species under the Endangered Species Act.Before coming to Washington, D.C., Roberson was manager of the Las Cruces (New Mexico) District Office and Manager of the Roswell (New Mexico) Field Office. During his time in Roswell, Roberson was named BLM-New Mexico Manager of the Year for 2001. The next year, his office received the President's award of the Wildlife Management Institute.During his tenure as Assistant Director, Roberson has led several national initiatives including the move of the BLM to a Landscape Approach to Conservation, Restoration and Development, including completion of numerous Ecoregional Assessments; the development of a National Socio-Economic Strategic Plan; the Geospatial Services Strategic Plan; and a Wild Horse and Burro Strategy.Roberson has a Bachelor of Science in Business, and Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from Auburn University. Roberson has been married to his wife Mary for 35 years. His daughter, Julie, is married to Major Shawn McNicol, and has two daughters, Rowan and Briar. Julie has a B.S. from New Mexico State University and an MBA. His son, Cason, a U.S. Navy Dentist, who is also an Auburn University graduate, is married to Shelley. They live in a Camp Lejeune, N.C., and have two sons, Davis and Will. Ed enjoys all types of outdoor activities and is a jogger.Roberson begins his new position at the NOC in early May. The NOC's 550 employees and contractors contribute to the BLM's overall multiple-use and sustained yield mission by providing operational and technical support in several key areas, including human resources, information technology, geospatial services, finance, and acquisition.