Colton L. Buckley serves as the 19th Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the nation’s largest private lands conservation agency. NRCS supports American agricultural productivity throughout the United States by helping farmers, ranchers, and private landowners protect and conserve natural resources on private working lands. NRCS employees in the field work side-by-side with producers and partners in every State and territory. Colton is the youngest Chief in NRCS history.

Colton is a distinguished leader in private-lands conservation, most recently appointed by President Donald J. Trump to serve as Associate Chief of NRCS. As Associate Chief, he directed and oversaw the agency's financial and technical assistance programs, management and strategy, science and technology, and soil science and resource assessment deputy areas, in tandem with the partnerships division. Prior to his appointment as Associate Chief, he served as Chief of Staff for NRCS.

Before joining the Trump-Vance Administration, Colton was Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, a national network of nonprofits that work to promote the conservation, development, and sustainable use of natural resources while improving economic conditions in rural America.

Earlier in his career, he was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, served as an advisor to the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, and was a rural economic developer supporting agricultural enterprises and small communities.

Raised on his family’s cattle ranch outside Gatesville, Texas, and as a lifelong outdoorsman, his work reflects his personal commitment and passion as a firebrand for keeping America’s working lands in American working hands.

Colton holds a bachelor’s in Agricultural Services and Development from Tarleton State University and a master’s in Communication from Liberty University. He is a proud alumnus of Turning Point USA.