David B. Allen, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Pacific Region, retired August 3, 2006, after nearly 36 years with the agency.
Ren Lohoefener, Assistant Director for the Services Endangered Species Program in Washington, D.C., will serve as Acting Regional Director of the Pacific Region until a final selection is made for Allens replacement. Lohoefener assumes his new position August. 7, 2006.
During the course of Allens career, he held leadership positions in the Services Northeast, Southeast and Alaska regions before coming to the Pacific Region in 2003. He has represented the Service and the United States internationally with the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Program involving eight arctic nations, the U.S.-Russia Area V Conservation Agreement and in treaty negotiations to conserve migratory birds with Canada and polar bears with Russia.
"I have very much enjoyed my time with the Service and working with such a dedicated group of people," said Allen, 59. "Conservation is an important part of my value system and the Fish and Wildlife Service is right at the center of that."
Lohoefener, 56, joined the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1989 after working for six years as an ecologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service. Before that, he was a Research Associate and Adjunct Professor at Mississippi State University. Since joining the Fish and Wildlife Service, Lohoefener has been a field biologist, the agencys Texas State Administrator and Assistant Regional Director of the agencys Southwest Region. While in the Southwest, he worked with 11 National Wildlife Refuges, four National Fish Hatcheries, two Fisheries Management offices and the Ecological Services program.
A native of Kansas, Lohoefener received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Fort Hays State University in Kansas and his Doctorate degree from Mississippi State University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Lohoefener said he believes that cooperation and collaboration are essential to all conservation efforts.
