The United States Bureau of Land Management has announced that Catherine Cook, who was the BLM Deputy Division Chief for Fluid Minerals in Washington, D.C., has been selected as the District Manager for the Rocky Mountain District in Colorado.

Cook, who begins her new position May 14, has 23 years of experience in natural resources and a background in management. She will oversee 1.8 million acres of public land along with 12 million acres of federal minerals within the district. The Gunnison, Royal Gorge and San Luis Valley field offices are also included in her oversight responsibilities.

After starting as an internal with the United State Forest Service in Montana, Cook progressed to fire and mineral resource positions in Nevada and Colorado. As a geologist, Cook served with the United States Geological Survey in Alaska. She has also worked as a Supervisory Physical Scientist in Wyoming before becoming a Branch Chief in Arizona.

Cook says she plans to balance conservation, resource use and development.