Aaron Ray

Bio

Aaron Ray is the Director of Policy for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources where he oversees the major policy functions of the Department, including: water, parks, wildlife, lands, outdoor recreation, energy, climate, forest health, and tribal affairs. Prior to serving as Director of Policy, Aaron was DNR’s Assistant Director for Energy Innovation, representing DNR on the Energy and Carbon Management Commission and leading the transition from traditional to renewable energy sources across the Department.

Prior to joining DNR, Aaron led the Energy Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures, served as Deputy Director for Policy in the Colorado Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and was a Program Examiner in the White House Office of Management and Budget with responsibility for Department of the Interior science, natural resources, and tribal programs.

Aaron teaches graduate environmental policy and management courses at the University of Denver and has served as a researcher at the Georgetown Climate Center and the Pew Research Center.

He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from American University, an MPP in Environmental and Regulatory Policy from Georgetown University, and an M.A. in Education from the University of New Mexico. He has also worked as a high school history, government, and economics teacher on the Navajo Nation and in Washington, DC.