Kevin Swinford

CIRE Director
P: (406) 550-1151
E: kevin.swinford@umt.edu
ISB 412 

As Director of CIRE, Kevin Swinford develops, implements, and oversees execution of the Center’s strategic vision, and directs collaboration with our Federal, Tribal, State, University and private-sector partners. Swinford joined CIRE in 2022 after a 28-year career with the Air Force where he served as an active-duty and reserve officer and civil servant. Among other roles, he served as a warranted contracting officer, lead procurement analyst at an Air Force MAJCOM HQ, OIC of the Facilities Engineering Projects Branch at HQ USSTRATCOM, chief of environmental compliance at Offutt AFB, installation Cultural Resources Manager, and as an environmental compliance and cultural resources contract program manager for the Air Force Civil Engineer Center. Swinford holds a Master of Legal Studies degree in Environmental and Agricultural Law and is APDP certified in Contracting, Program Management and Facilities Engineering.

Austin Blank, MBA

CIRE Associate Director
P: (406) 243-4009
E: austin.blank@umt.edu
ISB 412 

Austin serves as CIRE’s Associate Director and has spent nearly 10 years working with a variety of federal agencies. As the Associate Director, he is responsible for the execution of CIRE's vision and operations. He holds a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Montana and a Bachelor's with Marketing Emphasis from Lewis-Clark State College. In past roles, he has provided in-field GIS services, created Access databases and interactive GIS solutions, and served as the IT specialist both in the field and office. His work experience has included projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Army, Air National Guard, US Marine Corps, Navy, and US Air Force.

Jon McRoberts, PhD

CIRE Natural Resources Programs Manager
P: (573) 268-2638
E: jon.mcroberts@umt.edu
ISB 412

Jon Mc Roberts is CIRE’s Natural Resources Program Manager responsible for task-based research project execution.  Jon earned his Ph.D. in Wildlife Science and M.B.A. from Texas Tech University and was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources.  Jon has managed field projects throughout the western United States and Mexico for Federal, State, Tribal, academic, and private-sector partners. Jon is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and has published peer-reviewed literature on a variety of natural resource topics.