Governor Bill Richardson Congratulates Robert Apodaca on Presidential Appointment to Agriculture Department

Press Release

Governor Bill Richardson today congratulated Robert Apodaca, Local Government Director for the Department of Finance and Administration on his appointment by President Barack Obama to serve in the U.S. Agriculture Department. The President has appointed Apodaca to oversee the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the Western United States.

"Robert Apodaca has been an invaluable member of my administration. He was instrumental in reforming the state's capital outlay process making it more efficient and fair," Governor Richardson said. "He has worked closely with communities around the state to ensure that capital dollars were directed to those infrastructure projects most in need and which have had the greatest benefits to New Mexicans."

Apodaca has served as Director of DFA's Local Government Division since January 2005. Prior to that, he served as the Department's Director of Capital Outlay.

Apodaca, a native of Taos who earned his Business Administration degree from New Mexico State University, has an extensive public service background. He has served as Senior Financial Advisor for the New Mexico Finance Authority, Business Manager for the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, Deputy Director of Santa Fe County's General Services Department and a budget and financial analyst for Santa Fe County.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides products and services that enable people to be good stewards of the Nation's soil, water, and related natural resources on non-Federal lands. Through technical and financial assistance, the NRCS helps land managers and communities take a comprehensive approach to the use and protection of natural resources in rural, suburban, urban and developing areas.

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