Doug Burgum, born August 1, 1956, in Arthur, North Dakota, is an American businessman and politician serving as the 33rd governor of North Dakota since 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University in 1978 and an MBA from Stanford University in 1980. Burgum founded Great Plains Software in 1983, which was later acquired by Microsoft in 2001. He continued with Microsoft as a senior vice president until 2007.

In 2016, Burgum entered politics, winning the governorship of North Dakota. He was re-elected in 2020. In June 2023, he announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination but suspended his campaign in December 2023. Following this, he endorsed former President Donald Trump. In November 2024, President-elect Trump nominated Burgum for Secretary of the Interior.

As governor, Burgum emphasized economic development, technology, and energy. He supported both traditional energy industries and renewable energy initiatives, aiming for North Dakota to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. His administration also focused on behavioral health and addiction recovery programs.

Burgum’s nomination as Secretary of the Interior reflects his experience in energy policy and governance. The Department of the Interior manages federal lands and natural resources, and his leadership is expected to influence U.S. energy and environmental policies.