The Biden-Harris Administration has appointed three new individuals to key positions within the Department of the Interior. These appointments include a special assistant to the assistant secretary for land and minerals management, an advisor for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and a senior counselor in the Bureau of Reclamation.
These appointees will concentrate on promoting the clean energy economy, safeguarding public waterways and lands, addressing environmental justice issues, and honoring relationships between Native American Tribes and the federal government.
Rachel S. Taylor, chief of staff for the U.S. Department of the Interior, expressed her excitement about these appointments in a Feb. 9 news release. She said, "I’m thrilled to welcome a new group of leaders to the Department of the Interior who will help carry out our mission across the nation. These leaders will play an important role as the Department continues to implement President Biden’s Investing in America agenda."
John Watts has been appointed as senior counselor to Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton. According to a Feb. 9 news release announcing his appointment, Watts was instrumental in crafting provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law related to the Bureau of Reclamation and parts of the Inflation Reduction Act that addressed drought issues. In his former role as Senior Counselor to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, he advised Feinstein during her tenure as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.
Maryam Hassanein is now serving as special assistant to the assistant secretary for land and minerals management. Prior to this appointment, she worked at the U.S. House of Representatives with Glenn Ivey (D-MD). Hassanein is an Arizona State University graduate who completed several internships with a campaign for Arizona House Representatives, League of Conservation Voters, and U.S Congress.
Manuokalani "Manu" Tupper has been named adviser to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management after five years working on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs with Chairman Brian Schatz and Vice Chair Tom Udall. Tupper, a graduate of Pitzer College in Claremont, California, previously worked in the U.S. House of Representatives with Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa and also served in the Hawaii state legislature.
