Since statehood in 1859, the Land Board has been composed of the Governor (chair), Secretary of State and State Treasurer. Governor Kulongoski has served on the Land Board since 2003. Secretary of State Kate Brown and State Treasurer Ben Westlund participated in their first Land Board meeting on Feb. 10, 2009, in Salem.

Oregon's Constitution directs the board to manage lands under its jurisdiction to obtain the greatest benefit for the people of Oregon, consistent with resource conservation and sound land management. The board oversees the Common School Fund and the state lands dedicated to providing revenue for the fund.

Governor Kulongoski is the only governor in Oregon history to have served in all three branches of state government: legislative, judicial and executive. He was sworn in as Governor in 2003, and was reelected in 2006. Secretary of State Brown served in the Oregon Legislature for 17 years, where she became Oregon's first woman to serve as the Senate Majority Leader. Treasurer Westlund served 11 years in the legislature, where he chaired the Ways and Means Committee and spearheaded the Oregon Cultural Trust.