On July 24, U.S. Department of the Interior veteran David Bernhardt ​was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve ​as the Interior’s deputy secretary. ​He will be sworn-in in the coming days.​

This position makes him the COO of the department.

Bernhardt is an avid hunter and fisherman and recently served on the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has previously served as the United States Commissioner to the International Boundary Commission, U.S. and Canada.

He has previously held various positions within the Department of the Interior, including serving as solicitor.