As the former U.S. Secretary of State, Ken Salazar headed the vast agency whose bureaus manage water, fish, wildlife, mining, public lands and national parks and maintain federal relationships with American Indians. Salazar rose to the position during Barack Obama’s presidency, having served as a senator for Colorado for years. He drew from his prior experience as Colorado’s attorney general, natural resources director and legal counsel to Governor Roy Romer. As the state's attorney general, he led a well-publicized fight against a ballot measure that would have transferred water across the Rocky Mountains from western Colorado to Denver. 

He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Colorado College and a law degree from the University of Michigan.