Jesse Juen was appointed Associate State Director for BLM's New Mexico State Office in September 2003, which manages operations in four southwestern states. Jesse never dreamed he'd work for the government while attending Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. His goal was to manage a large ranch. He achieved that dream over a hundredfold by working with land
users, communities and other partners in managing BLM public lands which
include 13.4 million acres in New Mexico alone.
Jesse began his career as a Biological Technician with the Forest Service,
transferring to BLM in 1981. He was a Wildlife Management Biologist in
southeast New Mexico specializing in endangered species management and
land-use planning for nearly 8 years prior to entering management. He was an
Assistant Area Manager in Kingman, Arizona, and a Field Manager for the
Tucson Field Office. He developed partnerships throughout the office,
including efforts to deal with water depletion along the San Pedro Riparian
National Conservation Area and with the Empire-Cienegas Ranches to address
grazing management, recreation, endangered species and improvement of
riparian habitat.
Prior to his arrival in New Mexico, Jesse managed National Conservation
Areas and Monuments within the National Landscape Conservation System in
Washington, D.C. He worked with the Department of the Interior to implement the Secretary Gale Norton's 4C's approach (consultation, cooperation and
communication, all in service of conservation) to manage these areas.
Jesse's professional focus has consistently been on partnerships and
collaboration with public land users, interest groups, citizens, local
communities and governments in land-use planning, monitoring, and
management. He recently led efforts to develop BLM's national Sage Grouse
Conservation Strategy, working with other federal and state agencies,
including the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. This
collaborative approach to public land management has been very successful;
BLM is increasing its emphasis on partnerships to benefit the land and to
meet the needs of present and future generations.
Jesse and his wife Maggie have two sons, Michael and Robert.
