Bernie Petersen is the new Project Leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's South Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex, headquartered in Crossett, Arkansas. In his new position, Petersen oversees Felsenthal, Overflow, Oakwood Unit, and Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuges. These refuges are located in Ashley, Bradley, Union, Desha, and Sevier Counties.
"Bernie is a 15-year veteran of the Service, and he has extensive experience in managing public lands and refuges," said Sam D. Hamilton, the Service's Southeast Regional Director. "For the last two years, Bernie has done an exemplary job as the Deputy Refuge Supervisor for North and South Carolina, Georgia, and the Caribbean. We look forward to benefiting from Bernie's expertise as the Service works to conserve America's lands and wildlife on our national wildlife refuges.?
Petersen has been in the Service's Southeast Regional Office's Division of Refuges in Atlanta, Georgia, since 2005. He began his Service career in 1992 at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City, Iowa, as the Primary Refuge Operations Specialist. Seven years later, Petersen moved to Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in Puxico, Missouri as the Assistant Manager. In 2002, he became the Deputy Project Leader at the Fort Niobrara/Valentine National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Valentine, Nebraska.
"I am excited about all the opportunities my new position will offer and about the challenges of working in such a diverse refuge complex," Petersen said.
An Iowa native, Petersen is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology. He served for 16 years with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources starting as a fisheries technician and winding up as a conservation officer before he joined the Service.
Petersen enjoys hunting, fishing, motorcycle riding and photography. He has a son, Matthew Craig of Prairie City, Iowa and two daughters, Kathryn Rose of Rockport, Texas, and Anna Elizabeth of Prairie City, Iowa.
