Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton has announced the appointment of Rejane Medinger “Johnnie” Burton as director of the Minerals Management Service. Burton has served as director of Wyoming’s Department of Revenue since 1995, and is a former business owner and legislator in the state.

“Ms. Burton has the background and professional qualifications that are critical to this challenging position,” Norton said. “Johnnie is the right person, at the right time, to lead this agency and the vital role it will play in helping the nation focus on its energy-related challenges.”

MMS is the federal agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages the nation’s oil, natural gas and other mineral resources on the outer continental shelf in federal offshore waters. The agency also collects, accounts for and disburses mineral revenues from federal and Indian leases.

Before serving on the governor of Wyoming’s cabinet as director of the Department of Revenue, she served (1989-92) as vice-president of TCF Inc., an oil and gas exploration company based in Casper, WY. Prior to that, she was vice president of Dwights Energydata Inc., an information company specializing in oil and gas databases. Burton also was president and founder of Hotline Energy Reports Inc., which later merged with Dwights Energydata Inc. She began her career in the oil and gas industry as an oil scout in Casper, WY, for Rinehart Oil News of San Antonio, TX. From 1982 through 1988, Burton was a member of the Wyoming State House of Representatives.

Born in French Algeria, Burton immigrated to the United States in 1963 and became an American citizen in 1968. In 1958, she completed the Baccalaureat de l’Enseignement Secondaire (option Philosophie) from the Lycee Fromentin in Algiers, Algeria. She completed the License-en-Lettres, English, Diplome d’Enseignment from the Universities of Algiers in Algeria and in Paris, France in 1962. She holds a master’s degree (1974) from the University of Wyoming. She studied at the University of Arkansas and has completed management training by the Presidents Association and Duke University.

“Johnnie Burton is a knowledgeable and experienced administrator, who has been very successful as the Director of Wyoming’s Department of Revenue,” said Diemer True, chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. “She has been successful in her own business, successful as a state legislator, successful as a state administrator, and, I believe, will serve with distinction as MMS Director. The breadth and depth of her experience will be a great asset to the Department of the Interior and the Bush Administration.”

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