Wednesday, October 29, 2014

NWRA Names New SE Region Rep

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is pleased to welcome Mark Musaus as its new Regional Representative for the Southeast Region. Musaus will represent the Refuge Association to facilitate communication between local stakeholders, nonprofits and the Service about issues dealing with government affairs and conservation programs in the southeast region.

"Mark's extensive background working with the southeast refuges and their surrounding communities provide the perfect background to succeed as our Region Four Regional Representative," said David Houghton, President of the Refuge Association. "Mark has the dedication and expertise necessary for this position and will be an excellent addition to the Refuge Association team."

Musaus retired in December 2012 as the Deputy Regional Director for the Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after a 38+ year career. He was selected for the Fish and Wildlife Service Student Trainee Program in 1974, serving one summer at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. He has served as assistant refuge manager at Choctaw (AL), J.N. Ding Darling (FL), Piedmont (GA), and Tennessee (TN) national wildlife refuges, and as the deputy project leader at Savannah Coastal Refuges (GA).

In 1998, he was selected as the project leader for the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee and Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuges. In May 2007 he accepted the Chief of the Division of Visitor Services and Communications for the National Wildlife Refuge System. There he administered recreation and visitor use including hunting and fishing programs, environmental education, wildlife observation and photography on 550 national wildlife refuges. From January 2012 until he retired he served in the role of deputy regional director for the Service's southeast region. He helped oversee supervision of 1,500 employees in 10 states and the Caribbean in diverse Service programs ranging from the National Wildlife Refuge System to the Endangered Species Program, Migratory Birds, and Wildlife Law Enforcement.

Musaus received the Refuge Manager of the Year Award in 2000, the Department of Interior Superior Service Award in 2001, and the DOI Take Pride in America, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Land Manager of the Year award in 2005.

Musaus can be reached at mmusaus@refugeassociation.org or 202-417-3803 ex. 23.