DU Applauds Dan Ashe Confirmation as Director of FWS
OutdoorHub 07.05.11
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 1, 2011) – The U.S. Senate Thursday evening confirmed Daniel Ashe as the 16th Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ashe, a career employee of the agency, will assume his duties immediately.
Dale Hall, CEO of Ducks Unlimited, served as Director of the FWS from 2005-2009. Hall praised the Senate’s action, saying, “I have known and worked with Dan for more than 15 years. He’s a strong supporter of wildlife resources, an avid outdoorsman and a committed conservationist. The Fish and Wildlife Service is an important partner to Ducks Unlimited, and we look forward to working together to tackle the challenges facing wetlands and waterfowl today.”
Ashe attended Ducks Unlimited’s Annual Convention in Quebec this May, where he spoke to nearly 1,000 DU supporters.
“DU is a giant among our partners, and achievement is the hallmark of the DU, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partnership. We get things done,” said Ashe. “I know our partnership is going to continue to grow and be a top priority for both organizations. And that partnership has never been more important than it is today, because the challenges have never been greater.”
Ashe has served as the Service’s deputy director since August 2009. From 2003 to 2009, he was the science advisor to the Service’s director with broad responsibility to develop and implement the agency’s scientific policy and programs for resource management.
“Dan Ashe has served with distinction and integrity in the Fish and Wildlife Service for more than 15 years. He has worked tirelessly to prepare the Service to meet the resource challenges of the 21st century, and his leadership and vision have never been more necessary,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “I’m excited to work with him to foster innovative science-driven conservation programs and policies to benefit our nation’s fish and wildlife and its habitat.”
Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever.
Contact:
Laura Houseal (901) 487-9027 lhouseal@ducks.org
