WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today welcomed news that Estevan R. López has been nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. López, a native New Mexican and a graduate of New Mexico Tech, is being nominated replace outgoing Commissioner and Las Cruces native Michael Connor. Connor was recently confirmed as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior.
"Estevan López is highly qualified to lead the Bureau of Reclamation. With his experience in public service and the private sector, he brings a wealth of knowledge from many perspectives and a valuable understanding of water issues in New Mexico and the West," Udall said. "I am very pleased that the president has chosen another New Mexican to serve as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation."
"After six straight severely dry years, water is an especially critical issue facing our state, and it's vital that the person at the helm of the Bureau of Reclamation has a detailed understanding of the challenges we face in New Mexico," Udall continued. "I look forward to confirming Mr. López quickly so we can get to work on New Mexico projects such as the Middle Rio Grande Project, the Ute Reservoir, the Navajo-Gallup water supply and many more."
Estevan R. López is currently the Director of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, a position he has held since 2003. From 2001 to 2003, he served as County Manager of Santa Fe County. Prior to that, he served as the Land Use and Utilities Department Director of Santa Fe County from 2000 to 2001. López also served as the Utilities Department Director of Santa Fe County from 1998 to 2000 and as Utilities Division Deputy Director of Santa Fe County from 1997 to 1998. From 1990 to 1997, he was a Public Utility Engineer at the New Mexico Public Utility Commission. Previously, Mr. López worked at Arco Alaska, Inc. as an Operations Engineer and then a Well Work Supervisor. He received a B.S. from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
