NEEDLES, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management California Desert District welcomes Ron Nuckles as the new field manager for the Needles Field Office. In his role, Nuckles will oversee the management of more than 3.2 million acres of public lands in San Bernardino County. Nuckles started his position today and succeeds Michael Ahrens, who retired in December 2023.
“Ron brings a deep understanding of the BLM’s mission and programs and has experience working with others through challenging issues,” said Shelly Lynch, California Desert District Manager. “We are fortunate to have a field manager who is originally from the area and is familiar with the local communities and landscapes.”
Nuckles started his career with the BLM in 2017, where he managed engineering, maintenance, and support services for the Vale District Office in Oregon. He most recently spent two years as the Assistant Field Manager for the Lake Havasu Field Office in Arizona, managing operations for one of the only lake systems in the BLM, commercial leasing, recreation events, and Tribal relations. Nuckles served in the U.S. Marine Corps and has more than 20 years of federal experience, including eight years at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, and five years with the National Park Service at Joshua Tree National Park and Shenandoah National Park.
“I’m eager to be back in California working with staff, partners, and communities to accomplish the goals of the agency using innovative solutions,” said Nuckles. “I have extensive experience working with various agencies across multiple jurisdictions and understand how to balance stakeholder and community wants and needs, while achieving the BLM’s multiple-use mission.”
Nuckles was born and raised in southern California where he has spent most of his life. In his personal time, Ron enjoys recreating on public lands and waterways with his wife and three kids.
The Needles Field Office manages the eastern most portion of the California Desert Conservation Area which includes a large portion of the 1.6-million-acre Mojave Trails National Monument. The Monument is home to Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark, Afton Canyon Natural Area, Sheephole Valley Wilderness, and encampments of General George S. Patton Jr. The California Historic Route 66 National Scenic Byway also runs through the field office. For more information visit: https://www.blm.gov/office/needles-field-office.
