Skip to main content

Interior names new Idaho BLM Director

Boise--The US Department of Interior has named John Ruhs as the next Idaho BLM Director.

Ruhs of Boise is a veteran BLM land manager with more than three decades of experience in many BLM programs. 
The new Director will leave his current position as Assistant Director for Fire and Aviation at the National Interagency Fire Center in mid-March to become State Director.
Ruhs started his BLM career in the mid 80's as a seasonal Range Technician in Vale, Oregon. Since that time, he has worked in various resource management and leadership roles at BLM offices in Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and Washington. D.C. In Washington he served as Acting BLM Deputy Director for Operations overseeing many day-to-day operations of the agency. He also served as State Director in Nevada and for the Eastern States Office, which covers lands in states along and east of the Mississippi River.

Ruhs experience is tailor-made for Idaho and  includes extensive work in fire management programs including rangeland, mineral leasing,  grazing and wild horses management. Ruhs received a bachelor of science degree in animal science from the University of Idaho. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The BLM manages approximately 12 million acres of public land in Idaho for multiple uses, including livestock grazing, mining, conservation and recreation.