The Public Lands Foundation grants to Mike Pool its Lifetime Service Award for excellence in public land management. The Foundation provides this award to deserving members who have perpetuated and enhanced the proud tradition of public service.

Mike Pool is an Arizona native but was raised in Deming, New Mexico. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science from New Mexico State University.

Mike began his BLM career in Winnemucca, Nevada in the mid 1970s working in rangeland management. He subsequently worked as a realty specialist, assuming increasingly responsible positions, including Supervisory Resource Specialist in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Regulation and Policy Analyst in Washington, D.C.; District Manager in Farmington, New Mexico; BLM’s liaison to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management in Washington, D.C.; Associate State Director in Colorado; State Director in California; Deputy Director for Operations in Washington, D.C. (the highest career position in the BLM); and Acting BLM Director for more than a year.

Throughout his various positions, Mike dealt with about every program at every level of the organization. While stationed in New Mexico, Mike dealt with numerous tribes and Pueblos and developed an excellent relationship based on honesty and respect for native peoples.

His breadth of experience and amazing network of people within the BLM, DOI and congressional staff and members was a real asset. Mike’s natural, positive attitude and sense of humor put people at ease, even when facing a hostile situation.

Along with all his other responsibilities, Mike focused on employees and did his best to promote the BLM employees as some of the hardest working individuals committed to doing what was right for the public lands. And, Mike was always available to help employees identify and achieve their career goals. His “open door policy” was well known and his ability to relate to people from different backgrounds became his hallmark.

Mike has received numerous prestigious awards from the BLM and the Department throughout his career.

For his dedicated service and commitment to the BLM and the Department of the Interior during 38 years of service, the Public Lands Foundation is honored to recognize Mike Pool with this Lifetime Service Award.