Gov. Spencer J. Cox appointed Jamie Barnes as commissioner of the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in August 2026. In this role, she leads nearly 2,500 employees across nine divisions, three offices, and one authority. Her team oversees Utah’s most pressing natural resource priorities, including water security, energy and critical mineral development, wildfire management, forest health, state parks, outdoor recreation, and public lands stewardship.

Barnes previously served as Utah State Forester and director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) beginning in 2021, capping over 15 years with the agency. During her tenure, she managed sovereign lands to safeguard Utah’s navigable lakes and rivers under the Public Trust Doctrine. Her leadership on the Great Salt Lake, including establishing a framework for critical mineral extraction and negotiating a major water donation with Compass Minerals, earned her the 2025 Utah Water Pioneer Award from the Utah House of Representatives. She was also named the 2019 DNR Employee of the Year.

She began her career in the private legal sector before joining FFSL as a paralegal in 2011, building a strong foundation in regulatory policy, field operations, and inter-agency coordination. Barnes holds a Master of Natural Resources from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Weber State University. A lifelong Utahn, she enjoys exploring Utah’s beautiful mountains with her husband and two children.