Dave Pals has been named field manager of the Bureau of Land Management's Moab Field Office, after serving as acting field manager since September, the agency announced earlier this month.

Pals was Moab's assistant field manager for resources for more than two years prior to acting field manager and has been with the BLM for eight years, according to his LinkedIn profile. 

BLM Canyon Country District Manager Nicollee Gaddis-Wyatt said the agency is "thrilled" to make the announcement of Pals' selection as MFO manager.

“Dave is a thoughtful and analytical leader," Gaddis-Wyatt said in the announcement. "He brings extensive experience and passion for responsible resource management to his new role.”

Pals earned his Master in Geology degree at Iowa State University, according to the announcement, and is an U.S. Army veteran who served as a field medic. He worked as a geologist, including as a research geologist and exploration manager, in the public and private sectors prior to joining the BLM, the announcement states.  

"Pals spends his free time enjoying the outdoor recreation opportunities around Moab," the announcement reports. "He and his wife enjoy hiking, running, bicycling, camping, and can occasionally be found tooling around the backroads on a dual-sport motorcycle."

The Moab Field Office, located in the Colorado Plateau in Utah, includes 1.8 million acres of "stunningly scenic canyon country,' according to the BLM. Recreational uses include base jumping, climbing, hiking, horseback riding, off-highway driving and river rafting; the land is also used for livestock, mining, and oil and gas production, the BLM reports.

Moabl's Arches National Park is using a Pilot Timed Entry reservation system from April 1 through Oct. 31, to ensure reliable access to the park and a higher-quality experience for visitors, according to Discover Moab.