Randall B. Luthi served as director of the Minerals Management Service from July 2007 under George W. Bush left the White House. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in administration of justice and earned a law degree from the University of Wyoming in 1982.

 

His work in government service began as an aide to former US Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) and then Dick Cheney when he served in Congress as a representative from Wyoming. In 1986, Luthi was hired as an attorney for the Department of the Interior, where he worked until 1990 when he became senior counselor to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce.

 

In 1994, Luthi ran for office in the Wyoming House of Representatives. The election ended in a tie, with both Luthi and independent Larry Call receiving 1,941 votes. The election was decided by drawing a pingpong ball with Luthi’s name on it from the cowboy hat of Wyoming governor Mike Sullivan. Luthi declared that this was “democracy at its best.” He served as majority leader and then speaker in 2005 and 2006. After leaving office, Luthi returned to his private law practice as a partner in Luthi and Voyles. He also has managed a cattle ranch, JE Luthi Ranch, in western Wyoming.

 

In February 2007, Luthi was appointed by President George W. Bush to be deputy director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Five months later, in July, he was elevated to director of the Minerals Management Service.

 

In June 2007, Luthi tried to join the US Senate by getting appointed to fill the seat of Republican Senator Craig Thomas, who passed away. He was not chosen by the GOP Central Committee as one of the three candidates to be considered for appointment to the Senate by Wyoming’s governor. Luthi tied for fifth place out of 30 candidates on the second.