The former head of the New Mexico Environment Department has been appointed to lead an oil and gas industry group that represents producers around the state.
The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association on Friday announced Ryan Flynn as its new executive director.
Flynn replaces Steve Henke, who retired after six years with the association. Like Flynn, Henke also was a former government official, having worked in the Bureau of Land Management's field office in Farmington.
The association's chairman, Cliff Brunson, says Flynn's background in legal and regulatory affairs will be a good fit for the industry as it navigates what he called challenging times.
Environmental groups voiced concerns about a revolving door between government and industry, but association spokesman Wally Drangmeister said Flynn will honor an agreement that prohibits him from interacting with his former agency.
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