"The Arctic Refuge is one of the most complete, pristine and undisturbed ecosystems on earth," said Allen. "The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a treasure for all Americans, and right now Richard is definitely the best person to take care of it."
In his new role, Voss will manage a National Wildlife Refuge that encompasses nearly 20 million acres, an area about the size of South Carolina. One of the largest undeveloped natural areas in the country, the Arctic Refuge is renown for its wilderness values. Eight million acres are designated "wilderness." As the northernmost of all wildlife refuges, the Arctic Refuge offers a rich pageant of wildlife, including 180 species of birds, 36 land mammals, 36 fish, and 9 marine mammals.
According to Voss, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuges primary mandate is to protect the wildlife and habitats there for the benefit of people, now and for the future. "This is what Ive been dedicating my life to all along," he said. "Managing this magnificent piece of our country for the American people is a responsibility that I accept with enthusiasm and dedication. I sure never visualized myself doing this more than 25 years ago when I started working for the Fish and Wildlife Service as a entry-level biologist in Washington."
Voss has been a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team for more than 20 years. He joined the Service in 1974 in Olympia, Washington as a biologist with River Basin Studies. Since then, hes worked on 13 refuges throughout the country, and served as a technical advisor in China, Mongolia, Siberia and Nepal.
"Managing the Tetlin Refuge served as a wonderful final-stage training area, preparing me for the immense challenges and excitement I will face managing the Arctic Refuge," Voss said. "As the project leader for Tetlin, one of only two refuges accessible by road in Alaska, I helped manage the fish, wildlife and their habitats, as well as the Tetlin Visitor Center, which is the first visitor facility that travelers stop at when entering Alaska from the Alcan Highway." During his years as manager for the Tetlin Refuge, Voss came to the attention of Service employees at all levels.
He served as a natural resources advisor to Shey Phoksundo National Park in Nepal with the Office of International Affairs Partnership for Biodiversity Program in 1998. Voss received the Secretary of the Interiors annual Diversity Award in Management Achievement and the Services Equal Employment Opportunity Award in 1999 for his work with Alaska Natives.
"Over the years Richard has earned a broad background in natural resource management, first as a hands-on biologist working with many types of wildlife and habitat programs," Allen said. "Richard has worked closely with many of the Services partners including Alaska Natives, conservation organizations, private land owners and members of the general public. Hes managed everything from subsistence user programs to river basin development projects." According to Allen, Richard Voss knows Alaska, and understands what it takes to manage a delicate wildlife refuge.
Prior to coming to the Service, Voss worked as a paramedic for the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from the Humboldt State University in California in 1974, and immediately joined the Fish and Wildlife Service.
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.
For further information contact: Connie M.J. Barclay at (907) 786-3695
