Jim Martin, Executive Director

James Martin is the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and a member of Governor Ritter’s Cabinet. As Director, he oversees Colorado’s energy, water, wildlife, parks, and state lands programs.

Jim was appointed executive director by Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., on Oct. 26, 2009. He was previously the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, where he was responsible for managing a multitude of public health and environmental protection programs and served on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Before joining the Ritter administration, Jim was the executive director of Western Resource Advocates, a Boulder-based environmental law and policy organization. Prior to that, Jim served as director of the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado School of Law. 

From 1986 to 1992, Jim worked for former U.S. Senator Tim Wirth, including four years as state director and counsel. He has also worked with Environmental Defense as a senior attorney and director of the group’s energy program.

Jim served on the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission from February 21, 2003 to January 12, 2007.

He earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Knox College in Illinois and his law degree from Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College, in Oregon.