Michael F. Dwyer

Research/Professional Interests

• Advancing the application of quantitative methods in natural resource policy development and decision-making
• Operationalizing the concept of sustainability and advancing our understanding of the relationships between the social, economic, and natural environments
• Integrating spatial and temporal models of environmental problems
• Helping the next generation of environmental professionals to be critical thinkers

Education

Ph.D. Environmental Science, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), 2007, Phi Kappa Phi. My dissertation research assessed the effect of a System Dynamics group model building approach on the performance of teams developing urban growth policy.

M.P.A Public Administration - Policy Analysis emphasis, University of Colorado at Denver, 1987, Phi Alpha Alpha

B.S. Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, second major in Land Surveying, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1981
 
A.A.S. Civil Engineering Technology, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1980

Employment

2007 – present    Adjunct Professor, School of Environmental and Public Affairs, UNLV. 

1978 – present    United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.  Job titles, locations, and responsibilities follow.

2005 - present - Project Manager, Ely District Office (duty stationed in Las Vegas)  BLM Project Manager for high profile, multi-District energy related projects.

2002 - 2004 - Visiting Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, UNLV.  Full-time, Interagency Personnel Act (IPA) detail. Courses taught: Environmental Policy (ENV 410), and Land-use Management (ENV 430).  Modeler for the Land Use, Transportation, and Air Quality model developed for the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition (with K. Stave). 

2000 - 2002 - Manager, Southern Nevada Project Office.  Started-up and managed the office created to implement the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998. 

1995 - 2000 - District Manager, Las Vegas District Office.  Managed 3.6 million acres of public land in Southern Nevada, staff of 100 employees, and $5M budget. 

1991 - 1995* - Management Analyst, BLM Headquarters, Washington D.C. Performed policy and program evaluations. Provided technical assistance and formal instruction in strategic planning, performance measurement, and business systems engineering.  Developed policy for Bureau-wide implementation the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). (*except 1993 – see below) 
 
1993 - BLM Congressional Fellow – United States Senate, Washington D.C. (one year detail). Served as a Legislative Fellow for public lands and natural resources on the staff of U.S. Senator Harry Reid. 

1988 -1991 Chief, Branch of Information Technology, New Mexico State Office.  Managed the statewide information technology (IT) program.  Supervised 20 employees.  Concurrently served as the Project Manager for the BLM Land Information System Pilot Project.  Received the Department of Interior Superior Service Award (1988).

1985 -1988 Geographic Information System (GIS) Program Manager, Colorado State Office.  Provided program management, training and technical support for GIS applications statewide. 

1981 -1985 Supervisory Cartographer, Colorado State Office. Managed a staff of 10 employees providing remote sensing, photogrammetric, and digital cartographic services in support of resource management programs statewide.
 
1978 -1981 Civil Engineering Technician, Cartographic Technician, and Cartographic Aid, Colorado State Office.  Performed engineering surveys, remote sensing, photogrammetric, and cartographic services in support of resource management programs.

1987 Part-time Instructor, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Department of Civil Engineering Technology.  Developed and instructed undergraduate course in Land Information Systems.

Formal Instructor-led Training (extra-collegiate)
         

• 18 UNLV Teaching & Learning Center (TLC) Workshops from 2005 to present (30  classroom hours).  TLC Fellow (2009), Educational Web Developer certification (2009)
• Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, and Geographic Information Systems, (BLM instructor certification in GIS) -- 280 classroom hours
• Project Management (BLM instructor certification) -- 96 classroom hours
• Systems Engineering and Structured Analysis -- 80 classroom hours
• Management and Leadership  -- 228 classroom hours

Selected Awards, Recognition, & Professional Activities

• BLM Special Achievement Awards – 16 total, 1979-present
• Golden Pinecone Award – Nevada Environmental Leadership Coalition, 2002. 
• Named one of the year’s ‘Most Intriguing People’ by Las Vegas Life Magazine – 2001
• Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Leadership Las Vegas Graduate, 2001
• Department of Interior Superior Service Award - 1988

4505 Maryland Parkway | Box 454030 | Las Vegas | Nevada | 89154-4030
Phone 895-XXXX | Fax 702-895-XXXX | 3rd Floor | Greenspun Hall
© 2009 - Michael Dwyer