WASHINGTON, DC – Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney announced the appointment of Timothy LaPointe as the Great Plains Regional Director. The appointment is effective June 23, 2019.
“I am confident in Timothy LaPointe’s commitment to Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Great Plains Region. He has expertise in managing staff, programs, and services, which has the potential to return the highest yield to the tribal communities that we serve,” said Assistant Secretary Sweeney. “I am proud to name LaPointe as the director of the Great Plains Regional Office.”
“Cultivating a qualified pool of executives with managerial expertise to serve in a variety of leadership roles when needed is crucial to the future of the Bureau of Indian Affairs,” said BIA Director Darryl LaCounte. “Among our top priorities is to fill BIA’s leadership positions with highly qualified managers who will provide continuity and expertise in trust management in accordance with the BIA mission.”
“I am committed to carrying out the mission and trust responsibility of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the 16 tribes in the BIA Great Plains Region,” said Regional Director LaPointe. “I am proud to return as the leader for a great office and a great team.”
LaPointe returns to the Great Plains Regional Office after serving as the Midwest Regional Director since February 2018. From February 2011 to November 2014, LaPointe had served as the Deputy Regional Director – Trust Services for the Great Plains Region and as Regional Director. He was as one of the first Fiduciary Trust Officers (FTO) for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, where he oversaw trust financial programs for the Eastern Region, Eastern Oklahoma Region, and the Southern Plains Region. He also served as the FTO for the BIA Great Lakes Agency.
LaPointe, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, holds a juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas and a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Ozarks, where he majored in public administration with a minor in accounting.
The BIA Great Plains Region provides funding and support to 16 federally recognized Indian tribes located in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Tribes in this region encompass over 6 million acres.
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For Immediate Release: June 27, 2019
