Bureau of Land Management names new associate director for Arizona

The Bureau of Land Management today named Raymond (Ray) Suazo associate state director for the Arizona office, putting him in charge of day-to-day operations for 12.2 million acres of BLM-administered public lands in Arizona and overseeing a staff of more than 500 employees.

“I’m looking forward to assuming my new role immediately, and feel I have a good grasp on the position responsibilities,” Suazo, who served in the BLM Arizona office as deputy state director for business and support services prior to his promotion, said in a press statement.

Suazo joined the agency’s Arizona office in 2006 as chief information officer before being promoted to the deputy state director for business and support services in 2008. Previously he served in various positions with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, N.M., and Washington, D.C.

In 2004, Suazo completed a one-year USDA graduate program for potential executives. During this period, he served as deputy forest supervisor in the Tonto National Forest.

“Ray’s natural resource and business-related work with both the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM makes him an excellent choice for this position,” Jim Kenna, Arizona state director from the Bureau, said in a press statement. “Ray will provide excellent leadership as we move forward to implement the BLM Arizona strategies.”

Suazo, a native New Mexican, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force out of high school. He served a four-year tour in the U.S. and Europe. After his military service, he earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from New Mexico Highlands University in 1994. Suazo and his wife Denise have four children, Reyes and Adela, 22, Victor, 11 and Franchesca, 10.