Steve Feldgus has been appointed as the new principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, a position he has been serving in for some time. The Department of the Interior (DOI) also announced two other appointments: the principal deputy director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the Special Assistant to the Senior Counselor.
Feldgus brings with him a wealth of experience from his tenure at the DOI, where he has worked for nearly three years. His roles have included Deputy Assistance Secretary for Land and Minerals Management from May 2021 through January 2024. Prior to this, Feldgus served on the House Natural Resources Committee for nearly eight years, initially as a senior energy policy advisor before progressing to deputy staff director and senior energy and minerals policy advisor. His career also includes a stint as a senior advisor at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Feldgus holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Ph.D., in Physical Chemistry, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, according to his Linkedin profile.
"Over the last three years, the Interior Department has made tremendous progress in protecting our public lands, cleaning up legacy pollution, and spurring a clean energy economy. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue carrying out President Biden’s and Secretary Haaland’s goals for our public lands and ensuring that future generations have healthy and resilient landscapes," said Feldgus in an official news release dated January 5th announcing his appointment.
The DOI's announcement also included details about two other key appointments. Sharon Buccino is now serving as Principal Deputy Director at the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Prior to her appointment, Buccino was an adjunct professor at the University of Wyoming while also serving on Laramie's planning commission focusing on housing, growth management, and economic development.
The second appointee announced by the DOI is Hadeel Shadid, who has taken up the role of special assistant to the senior counselor. Shadid's previous roles include Scribe Ambassador at Suburban Hospital and consultant and research analyst. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a double minor in chemistry and psychology from George Washington University, and a Master of Science in Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy from Georgetown University.
