Ishee Named New MMS Deputy Director

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced the appointment of Mary Katherine Ishee as deputy director. In this capacity, Ishee will assist MMS Director Liz Birnbaum in the administration of programs that ensure the effective management of energy resources located on the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf — including the development of offshore renewable energy — and the environmentally safe exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas.

“Mary Katherine brings more than two decades of experience in energy and environmental policy to MMS,” said Birnbaum. “Her diverse background in the legal, legislative, regulatory, and administrative aspects of environmental and energy issues will be a real asset to MMS.”

Ishee comes to MMS from a position as an energy and environmental consultant in private practice. Before going into private practice, Ishee worked on Capitol Hill where she served as Senior Energy Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Ishee began her career as a staff attorney in the Solicitor’s Office in the U.S. Department of the Interior where she worked on a variety of onshore and offshore mineral development issues.

Ishee currently divides her time between D.C. and her home in the Virginia countryside near the Shenandoah National Park.