U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall has named Geoffrey L. Haskett Assistant Director, National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). Haskett, former Deputy Regional Director for the Service’s Southwest Region, has served as NWRS Acting Assistant Director since early June. Haskett replaced former Assistant Director Bill Hartwig, who retired June 3.
“I was proud to serve with Geoff Haskett when I was Southwest Regional Director, and I am proud to welcome him as a permanent member of our leadership team,” Hall said. “Geoff’s experience, enthusiasm and love of the National Wildlife Refuge System will serve as strong guideposts for Refuge System now and in the future.”
“I am privileged to take the helm of the Refuge System, which leaves an indelible mark on America’s outdoor heritage,” Haskett said. “The world’s smartest, hardest working people work for the Service and our Refuge System. Our work for America’s wildlife is second to none, and our interest and ability to work cooperatively with all other Service programs is our strength.”
Haskett served as Deputy Regional Director for the Southwest Region from 1997 to 2006. During that time he helped develop cooperative conservation efforts throughout the Southwest area with state, local and private agencies to improve protection efforts for natural resources. Most recently, he completed the Department of the Interior’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) in May 2006.
Prior to going to the Southwest Region, Haskett served as Assistant Regional Director for Refuges and Wildlife in the Southeast Region, where he was responsible for the National Wildlife Refuge System in the 10 Southeastern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He also served as Geographic Assistant Regional Director for the Region’s Southeastern ecosystems.
Haskett worked in the Service’s Washington Office from 1988 to 1994 as Branch Chief of Operations for the Division of Realty, and later, as Chief of Realty. He started his Service career in 1979 in the Portland Regional Office.
In addition to his work with the Service, Haskett served as a Supervisory Realty Officer for the National Park Service in Alaska, where he was Deputy for the Alaska Lands Program. From 1980 to 1984, he was responsible for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Realty Program for 3.5 million acres of public land in the Burns District, high desert country of Oregon.
Haskett holds a master’s degree in public administration (1980), is a graduate of BLM’s Oregon/Washington Management Development Program (1985),completed the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society (1993), completed the Center for Creative Leadership Development Program (1997), and attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executive Fellows in 2001. Haskett received the Secretary of the Interior’s Meritorious Service Honor Award in 2003.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 546 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations.
The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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