Secretary Salazar Applauds President's Nomination of Dan Ashe to be Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today praised President Obama's nomination of Dan Ashe to be the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ashe currently serves as the agency's deputy director.

“As a senior manager with the Fish and Wildlife Service for more than 15 years, Dan Ashe has experience leading many of the agency's programs, including the National Wildlife Refuge System and the migratory bird program,” Salazar said. “He is an outstanding choice to ensure the Service's programs are both innovative and science-driven as we face the challenges of managing our fish and wildlife resources in the 21st century.”

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Ashe would succeed Sam Hamilton, who died last February. Rowan Gould has served as Acting Director since February 2009.

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 in providing counsel and leadership in developing the agency's scientific policy and scientific applications for resource management.

Prior to that, Ashe served as the Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System from 1998 to 2003, directing operation and management of the 93 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System and the Service's land acquisition program.

Ashe joined the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1995 as assistant director for external affairs where he directed the agency's programs in legislative, public, and Native American affairs, research coordination, and state grants-in-aid.

From 1982 until 1995, Ashe was a member of the professional staff of the former Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ashe has a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences from the Florida State University and a graduate degree in marine affairs from the University of Washington.