Office
of the Secretary Contact: Hugh Vickery at 202-208-6416
For
Immediate Release: January 28, 2002
Secretary
Norton Applauds Confirmation of Craig Manson
As
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
WASHINGTON--
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today applauded the Senate’s confirmation
of Craig Manson, a California judge, to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior
for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
“Judge
Manson has a distinguished record of service in both federal and state government
and broad experience in wildlife and natural resource management,” Norton said.
“He will be an outstanding Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and
Parks.”
Manson
was appointed to the Sacramento County Municipal Court in January 1998, and
elevated to the Superior Court in June 1998. Before that (1993-98) he served as
General Counsel for the California Department of Fish and Game, where he was
responsible for providing legal and policy advice to the agency Director, the
Secretary for Resources, and the Governor, on state and federal Endangered
Species Acts, wetlands, water law, California Environmental Quality Act and
other natural resource issues.
Judge
Manson has been also an Adjunct Professor at the McGeorge School of Law. Prior
to his appointment to the Sacramento County Municipal Court, Manson worked as
an attorney (1989-93) with the law firm of Downey, Brand, Seymour and Rohwer,
located in Sacramento California. He also worked as outside counsel for the
California Department of Conservation.
Manson,
a colonel in the California Air National Guard, served as Associate Professor
of Law at the U.S. Air Force Academy (1985-89). He is the founding Director of
the Academy's Air and Space Law Program. He served as Area Defense Counsel
(1984-85) for the U.S. Air Force Judiciary, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate
(1983-84), and as International Law Advisor for the U.S. Republic of Korea
Combined Forces Command, United Nations Command in Korea in 1983.
Manson
is a native of Missouri and grew up in New Mexico and California. He earned his
B.S. degree in 1976, from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and graduated on the
Commandant's List for Military Excellence, and the Dean's List for Academic
Excellence. He earned his J.D. degree in 1981, from McGeorge School of Law,
University of the Pacific, with the distinguished Order of the Coif,
Outstanding Graduating Senior, and Editor-in-Chief, Pacific Law Journal.
Judge
Manson has served on numerous boards and is listed among the Outstanding Young
Men of America, and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He is a
member of the American Inns of Court and have received numerous military awards
and decorations.
Judge
Manson will become the first African-American to serve as Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks
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