Kent worked for 20 years as a director of environmental health for the City of Albuquerque. He was appointed by NM Governor Johnson to the Western Governors Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission to develop regulations to improve visibility in Class 1 wildlife areas; and Governor Richardson to serve on the NM Climate Change Task Force and develop transportation CO reduction programs. In 2009, he was appointed by NM Senator Jeff Bingaman to serve on the U.S. Senates Outdoor Resources Review Group. Starting in 2009, he served a three year term as a New Mexico State Game Commissioner being appointed by NM Governor Bill Richardson. In 2011, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to Chair the Valles Caldera National Trust Board which he helped transition to a National Park Preserve.
He works in several coalitions advocating for the establishment of the Columbine Hondo Wilderness area, the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument and El Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Working with several land conservation organizations he has advocated nationally for the Land and Water Conservation fund, for Federal Land Transfer Facilitation Act (FLTFA) and the reform of the 1872 Mining Law.
Kent is a Past President of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. He is on the Board of HECHO and Conservation Voters NM C4. He previously served as the Western Vice Chair of the NWF Board.
