BOEM Names Hillary Renick to Tribal Liaison Officer Position

Release Date
01/10/2022
Contact(s)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is pleased to announce Hillary Renick as the new Tribal Liaison Officer. Renick serves as BOEM’s point of contact for Tribal matters and facilitates consultation and collaboration between BOEM and Tribal Nations or Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporations.

BOEM implements Tribal consultation policies through both formal government-to-government consultation and informal dialogue, collaboration, and engagement. BOEM is committed to maintaining open and transparent communications with Tribal governments, Alaska Native Organizations, Native Hawaiian Organizations and other Indigenous communities. BOEM’s approach aims to emphasize trust, respect, and shared responsibility as part of a deliberative process for effective collaboration and informed decision-making.

“Hillary’s years of service with the federal government and Tribal communities on aspects of Tribal and environmental issues at the regional and national level are invaluable to the BOEM mission,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “Her prior outstanding work as the BOEM Tribal Liaison Coordinator, her experience as a Department of Interior resource manager, along with her experience in Tribal law and policy as a lawyer and former Tribal judge make her the perfect fit for this position.” In her new position, Renick will lead Tribal consultation matters for BOEM and make decisions on Tribal implications under bureau policy for matters involving the Alaska, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific regions.

Renick previously served as the BOEM Tribal Liaison Coordinator where she advised BOEM leadership on implementing Tribal consultation policies through formal and informal dialogue, collaboration, and engagement. Notably, she worked with BOEM staff and Tribal representatives to organize and facilitate the first ever BOEM Tribal Ocean Summit. The summit was open to all 574 federally-recognized Tribal nations and Alaska Native Corporations and attracted more than 80 Tribal and native representatives from Alaska, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific coastal states.

Prior to BOEM, Ms. Renick held positions within the Department of the Interior, the National Institute of Health, the State Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Hillary also previously served as a Udall Fellow for Senator Maria Cantwell. Ms. Renick is an enrolled member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians and descendant of the Hopland Shanel, Noyo River and Ft. McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone communities.

Hillary received her B.A. in Anthropology from American University; studied Public Health at George Washington University; M.S. in Cultural Resource Management from Central Washington University; J.D. from the University of the Oregon School of Law, with certificates of completion in Environmental and Natural Resources, Ocean and Coastal Law, Pro Bono, and Public Service; and LL.M. from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

-- BOEM --

The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for America’s offshore energy and mineral resources. The bureau promotes energy independence, environmental protection and economic development through responsible, science-based management of energy and mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.