"LaVerne Smith shines as a bright beacon for the Service in her solid dedication and devotion to the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said David B. Allen, the Services Regional Director for Alaska. "Smith came to us from Washington in April of this year, and already she has stood out as an invaluable employee and steward for the States wildlife resources."
Since joining the Service, Smith has served as Chief of the Division of Endangered Species in Washington, and has been highly involved in the implementation of major new policies such as "No Surprises,Safe Harbor," and "Candidate Conservation." She has helped develop agency handbooks describing Service consultation requirements with state, tribal and private landowners.
E. LaVerne Smith, Assistant Regional Director for Fisheries and Ecological Services for the Service in Alaska, provides policy and budget leadership, advocacy and oversight for Fisheries, Marine Mammals and Ecological Services. She is one of seven Service employees so far in 1999 who has received the Meritorious Award. In 1998, nine Service employees received the Award.
The Meritorious Service Award is granted to career employees of the Department of the Interior. An employee may receive only one Meritorious Award during his/her career. The Award is given for important contributions to science, superior skill and ability, superior record in administration, superior contributions in areas such as diversity and equal opportunity, energy conservation or other areas of public service. Award recipients receive a silver medal and pin, and a certificate and citation signed by the Secretary of the Interior.
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 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management assistance offices and 78 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 Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies.
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