Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper announced Mike Celata as the regional director of the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region, November 17.
Celata, who starts his position immediately, has been with BOEM and its predecessors since 1988. He served as acting regional director prior to his selection.
The Gulf of Mexico Region manages more than 4,600 active leases over 25 million acres of land on the OCS.
BOEM says that, as regional director of Gulf of Mexico OCS, Celata plans to emphasize environmental science, operational efficiency and technology use. He also plans to increase stakeholder outreach.
BOEM Director Abigail Ross Hopper said: “Mike has many years of service with the agency, working on aspects of the OCS energy program and on regional and national ocean policy initiatives,” “His collaborative management style, public engagement experience and ability to seek out opportunities that strike a balance between resource development and environmental protection make him a perfect fit for overseeing our program in the Gulf.”