WASHINGTON – Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Jerold L. “Jerry” Gidner today announced that he has named Michael S. Black as Regional Director of the BIA’s Great Plains Regional Office in Aberdeen, S.D. His appointment became effective on July 20. The Great Plains Regional Office oversees 12 BIA agencies serving the 16 federally recognized tribes located in the states of Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
“I am pleased that Mike Black has joined the ranks of Bureau of Indian Affairs senior regional executives,” Gidner said. “His years of experience working with BIA field staff, tribal governments, and other federal and state agencies will make him a great addition to my team.”
Black, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, had been serving as the Deputy Regional Director – Indian Services in the BIA’s Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Billings, Mont., since January 2004. He also had served eight months as the acting Great Plains Regional Director starting in June 2007.
Black began his federal career in 1987 in the BIA’s Aberdeen Area Office (now the Great Plains Regional Office) as a General Engineer with the Branch of Facilities Management. From 1992 to 2001, he worked in the BIA’s Billings Area Office (now the Rocky Mountain Regional Office) as Regional Facility Manager, where he provided management and oversight of the Bureau’s facilities construction and operations and maintenance programs. In December 2001, he was named Chief of the Division of Engineering, where he was responsible for regional facility management, road construction, and road maintenance and safety programs.
As the Rocky Mountain deputy regional director, Black was responsible for providing management and oversight for all Indian Services programs including Road Construction, Road Michael Black Named Regional Director – Maintenance, Tribal Government Services, Credit, Housing, Self-Determination, Social Services, Safety, and Environmental and Cultural Resources Management.
Black graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1982. He received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1986.
Note to Editors: A photo of Michael S. Black may be viewed via the Interior Department’s website at www.doi.gov.
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For Immediate Release: September 5, 2008
