UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 Nevada 333-125068 26-3633813
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation) Identification No.)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (307) 686-5030

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 5.02. DEPARTURE OF CERTAIN OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS

On February 16, 2011, the Board of Directors of High Plains Gas, Inc. (the "Company") appointed Brent M. Cook as Chief Executive Officer. Mark D. Hettinger was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Prior to joining High Plains Gas, Inc., Mr. Cook served as CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Current Energy Partners Corporation, a privately held Delaware Corporation. Current was the acquiring entity of CEP-M Purchase, LLC until it sold its interest for common stock in High Plains Gas, Inc. Previous to Current Energy, Mr. Cook served from October 2004 until August 2009 as a director of Raser Technologies Inc., a publicly traded energy technology company listed on the NYSE ("Raser" NYSE:RZ), and as Raser's Chief Executive Officer from January 2005 until August 2009. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Cook served in various positions at Headwaters Inc. (NYSE: HW), a large publicly-traded energy technology company, including Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Prior to his joining Headwaters Inc., Mr. Cook was Director of Strategic Accounts, Utah Operations, at PacifiCorp, which operates as a local electric utility in seven western states. Mr. Cook spent 12 years at PacifiCorp with specific expertise in transmission interconnection and power sales agreements. Mr. Cook was also employed from 2002-2005 by AMP Resources, a geothermal power generation company that later sold their projects to ENEL, an Italian power generation company.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 15, 2011 By: sBrent M. Cook
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 Name: Brent M. Cook
 Title: Chief Executive Officer
 Principal Executive Officer


Date: March 15, 2011 By: sJoe Hettinger
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 Name: Joe Hettinger
 Title: CFO and Director
 Principal Financial Officer