Luke D. Johnson, who has been the BLM's chief of staff since last December, is a Sandy native and 1999 graduate of Utah State University and served as Bennett's senior legislative aide for energy, natural resource, and agricultural issues.

"With his executive and legislative experience, combined with his keen knowledge of natural resource issues and conscientious dedication to his work, Luke is the right choice for moving our agency forward in its multiple-use mission," said BLM director Jim Caswell in a statement Friday.

Before joining the BLM, Johnson was chief of congressional and legislative affairs for the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation.

The BLM manages 258 million acres of public land, most of it in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The agency also manages 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral rights.