The Public Lands Foundation grants to Carson “Pete” Culp its Lifetime Service Award for excellence in public land management.  The Foundation provides this award to deserving BLM employees who have perpetuated and enhanced the proud tradition of public service.

Pete was born in Washington, D.C. and received a degree in accounting at Penn State.   Pete’s career spanned 43 years: 31 in BLM, eight with the Office of Surface Mining, one with the old Bureau of the Budget, and three in the US Army.

He began his career with the BLM in 1961 as a GS-5 Accountant and rose to a Branch Chief of Budget position. Other positions Pete held over his career included Assistant Director for Lands, Realty and Resource Protection; Eastern States Director (twice); Acting Deputy Director; Acting Director; and Special Assistant to the Director for National Energy Policy.

Some of Pete’s specific accomplishments include providing expertise for testimony in Congressional hearings, developing and providing training for BLM’s Annual Work Planning system, having positive involvement in several controversial BLM actions such as “Rightsizing,” and salvaging the failed Automated Land and Resources Management System (ALMRS).  As the Eastern States Director, Pete provided leadership in the roll out of lands records, and had numerous other accomplishments related to the wild horse program and establishment of a fire crew in the ESO.  He was also credited with effectively resolving personnel and productivity issues in the Jackson District Office during his second tour as the ESO Director.  Later in his career Pete co-chaired a Federal/State task force to work out issues related to the development of coal bed methane resources, an effort for which he was widely recognized.

Pete was regularly called upon to fill a variety of highest-level positions in the Washington Office.  His credibility within the BLM and in the Interior Department helped to keep the BLM functioning at high levels during Administration changes.

Pete’s involvement in the establishment of the Office of Surface Mining and his seven-year career with that agency benefitted public lands through improved management of surface coal mines and abandoned mine land reclamation.  His positions there included OSM’s first Assistant Director for Budget and Management.

After retirement, Pete’s interests and continuing service included the PLF Board, serving as president of a local land trust in Maryland, and working for a local charity and historical society.

The Public Lands Foundation is honored to recognize Carson “Pete” Culp with this Lifetime Service Award, presented September 13, 2018 at the Foundation’s annual meeting in Billings, Montana.

September 13, 2018