CONSERVATION CORNER
January 2, 2006
Service Veteran H. Dale Hall is New FWS Director
by James L. Cummins

H. Dale Hall, a 27 year career employee of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been nominated by President Bush, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to serve as the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Hall has served in Albuquerque, New Mexico as the Southwest Regional Director since 2001. "Dale brings to the job a wealth of experience and a record of being part of the answer to complex problems," said Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.

"As a qualified scientist, he has worked on everything from the Northwest Forest Plan to the California Bay/Delta water settlement, to the plan for restoring the Everglades. He has dealt with wetlands across the nation and water issues on the Middle Rio Grande and the Missouri Rivers. In every instance he has sought consensus and solutions. I am confident he will continue that record."

Hall said that he was "humbled and honored" to be nominated by President Bush and to have the confidence of Secretary Norton. "I'm looking forward to this position and to using my experience to lead our outstanding employees in finding science based, cooperative solutions to the tough issues before the Service."

Hall has previously served as Deputy Director of the Southeast Region and a term as Assistant Regional Director for Ecological Services in Portland, Oregon. He started his career with the Service in 1978 when he did field work in wetlands ecology in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Hall will be over all national wildlife refuges and all national fish hatcheries in the Nation. Refuges in Mississippi include DaHomey, Bogue Chitto, St. Catherine Creek, Noxubee, Sand Hill Crane, Grand Bay, Tallahatchie, Holt Collier, Theodore Roosevelt, Yazoo, Hillside, Panther Swamp, Morgan Brake and Matthew's Brake. This includes the Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery in Tupelo.

Hall holds a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Cumberland College in Kentucky and a master's in fisheries science from Louisiana State University. Hall has been honored with the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award. He and his wife, Sarah, have three children.

For more information about national wildlife refuges call 1-800-344-WILD or contact them at www.fws.gov. Enjoy our national wildlife refuges and remember the work it took to make them happen.

We at Wildlife Mississippi look forward to working with Director Hall on the issues facing Mississippi, especially restoring the resources lost due to hurricane Katrina.