Donald Laverdure

Background Donald "Del" Laverdure is an enrolled citizen of the Crow Tribe of Montana He was born at Crow Agency, Montana, and grew up on the Crow Indian Reservation. Laverdure served in this role for almost five months until President Barack Obama 's new nominee for Assistant Secretary, Kevin K. Washburn, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in September 2012, and took office in early October of that year.

One of Laverdure's major accomplishments in his various roles at the Department of the Interior was shepherding new leasing regulations through the regulatory reform process. Among other improvements, the new leasing regulations provided for pre-emption of state taxation of commercial activities on leased Indian lands and greater deference to tribes in the decision-making process.