Jake Buxton was named deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in January 2025.
Jake supports the department director in building the agency to achieve its mission of serving as a steward of Missouri’s natural resources, and achieving a vision of managing Missouri’s natural resources to build a lasting legacy for future generations. As deputy director, Jake oversees the department’s Division of State Parks, the Missouri Geological Survey and the Division of Administrative Support. He has built strong relationships with Missouri’s conservation and natural resources communities as well as local governments and non-profits throughout his career. Jake has worked in the Governor’s Office, and also as a legislative liaison for the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Truman State University.