Indiana Ag Connection - DNR Welcomes New Directors for Water, Oil and Gas Divisions

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DNR Welcomes New Directors for Water, Oil and Gas Divisions
Indiana Ag Connection - 10/17/2017

The DNR divisions of Water and Oil & Gas received new directors this fall.

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and Indiana Department of Natural Resources director Cameron F. Clark appointed Ryan Mueller to lead Water and Russell Retherford to lead Oil & Gas after the previous directors in both divisions retired.

Mueller, who begins his new position this week, previously served as executive director of the Interstate Council on Water Policy, a national non-profit organization based in Bloomington, since 2015. Before that, he directed the Missouri DNR's Water Resource Center.

Mueller holds master and bachelor's degrees in geological engineering, both from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Mueller replaces Mike Neyer, who retired after 43 years of DNR service, 19 as director of Water.

Retherford rejoined the DNR last month after working most recently as president of Basin Field Services, Inc. The consulting firm specializes in wetlands, water quality and water discharge permitting, mitigation strategies and project management.

Retherford held two previous jobs with DNR, one from 1991-97 in the Division of Reclamation, the other from 1997-2000 in the Division of Oil & Gas, where he was assistant division director.

He later spent 13 years as a regulatory specialist with the Louisville District of the Army Corps of Engineers, coordinating permitting activities with state and federal regulatory agencies, local county governments, and public interest groups.

Retherford, who has a bachelor's degree in natural resources from Ball State University, replaced Herschel McDivitt, who retired with 26 years of DNR service, 11 as director of Oil & Gas.

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