retirement | Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE)

Posts Tagged ‘retirement’

Congratulations Walter Cruickshank!

Posted in energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized, tagged BOEM, Cape Cod Baseball League, Minerals Management Service, retirement, US Dept. of the Interior, Walter Cruickshank on June 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Congratulations to Walter Cruickshank on his retirement from the U.S. Dept. of the Interior!

Walter’s policy acumen, in depth understanding of the offshore program, and balanced perspective on energy development earned him the respect of the political leadership from both parties, a rare achievement. As a result, Walter served more time as Director and Deputy Director of both the Minerals Management Service and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management than any other individual. He also served as Acting Secretary of the Interior during the latest transition, a first for a career offshore program employee.

Walter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences from Cornell University and a Doctorate in Mineral Economics from the Pennsylvania State University (We Are!). Although his Federal career spanned more than 40 years, he has rather remarkably retained his intellect and sanity! 😉

Best wishes to Walter going forward. I hope he finds time to root for his Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League!

Consistent with the proud tradition of the OCS program, I am posting the masterpiece “Rig at Sunset” in Walter’s honor.

“Rig at Sunset” was painted 50 years ago by a US Geological Survey (USGS) employee who chose to remain anonymous. The masterpiece was presented to USGS (later MMS) engineers and scientists who had made important contributions to the offshore oil and gas program. Understandably, the intended recipients were so humbled by the magnificence of the painting that they could not accept it. As the painting grew in value and international prominence, framed copies were presented to retirees and the original painting was kept at a secure, undisclosed location. *More on the painting’s important symbolism at a later date. 😉*

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Gig Kocher retires after 57 years of Federal service

Posted in Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized, tagged 57 years, DOI, Gig Kocher, retirement, Texas A&M, USAF, Yankees on November 3, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Gig Kocher (second from left) after receiving an honor award from (then) Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke (middle)

Gig Kocher recently retired from BSEE after an amazing 57 years of Federal service. Nine of those years were served in the US Air Force, and the remaining 48 were at the US Dept. of the Interior, mostly in the offshore oil and gas program.

Gig is a native New Yorker and a huge Yankees fan (tough year in that regard). However, it’s only fitting that a guy named Gig would eventually become a Texas A&M Aggie (“Gig ’em!”), where he earned a master’s degree in computer science back in the mainframe and punch card era.

Gig was a strategic planning wiz who excelled at concisely outlining the steps and tactics needed to achieve desired objectives. He managed major updates to the documents and information technology systems critical to the success of our offshore energy programs.

Gig will be greatly missed by the troops at BSEE. His retirement event went something like this: 😉