Director of the Bureau of Land Management: Who Is Neil Kornze?

Neil Kornze, a native of Elko, Nevada, was nominated to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Department of the Interior on November 8, 2013. His nomination was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on January 16, 2014. Kornze's background in politics and public land management has made him a significant figure in the field.

Neil Kornze's father, Larry Kornze, worked extensively in the mining industry, serving as general manager of exploration for Barrick Gold Corp. Neil Kornze attended Whitman College, where he was named to Phi Beta Kappa and earned a Bachelor of Arts in politics in 2000. He furthered his education with a master's degree in international relations from the London School of Economics.

Beginning in 2003, Kornze worked in the office of Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada), focusing on public land issues such as mining, renewable energy development, and wildlife. He played a key role in the development and passage of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which designated significant areas of wilderness and scenic rivers.

In January 2011, Kornze joined the BLM as a senior advisor and later became the acting deputy director for Policy and Programs. He was instrumental in the Western Solar Plan, aimed at developing solar energy on BLM-administered lands across several states.

At 34, Kornze was one of the youngest agency heads in history. Despite his mining industry ties, his nomination was praised by environmental groups like the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters.

Kornze also served as an international election observer in Macedonia, Ukraine, and Georgia. In 2009, he married Mara Gassmann, an attorney specializing in media and entertainment law.

Originally Posted By All Gov