Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk is moving to fill some director positions at the Bureau of Indian Affairs although half of the regional offices in Indian Country remain in transition.

Echo Hawk recently named William Tandy “Bill” Walker as the regional director of the Southwest Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Walker is a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Walker filled the position on December 20, 2009. But due to his law enforcement experience, he has been placed on a 120-day detail at the BIA's central office in Washington, D.C., to serve as acting deputy director of justice services.

Pat Ragsdale, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, left that position last Friday after he became eligible for federal retirement.

As a result of Walker's shift to DC, the BIA has named an acting director for the Southwest region. In total, six out of the 12 regional directors in Indian Country are being held by someone in an acting capacity -- four due to recent retirements and two due to personnel or administrative changes.

Back in DC, Echo Hawk named Paula L. Hart, a member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York, as director of the BIA's Office of Indian Gaming Management. The development was first reported by Indianz.Com on Tuesday.

Additionally, Echo Hawk named Bartholomew “Bart” Stevens, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of Arizona, as acting director of the Bureau of Indian Education. Stevens will serve in the position until a permanent director is hired.

"This temporary move was necessary as we review and assess what we expect to be a talented slate of candidates for the critical position of Director of the Bureau of Indian Education," Echo Hawk said.

The application process for the position closed on Monday. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar considers finding a new director a top priority, Echo Hawk said.

Get the Story:
Press Release: Echo Hawk Names Paula L. Hart as Director of the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Gaming (BIA 2/4)
Bureau of Indian Education headed by Utahn Bart Stevens (The Salt Lake City Deseret News 2/4)

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BIA faces leadership void among regional director level (2/2)