Ducks Unlimited said Monday morning that Paul Schmidt will leave his post as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assistant director for migratory birds to be the conservation group's Chief Conservation Officer.
Schmidt will move into the position held previously by Alan Wentz, who retired from DU in September.
Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall said Schmidt will head up DU's national and international conservation programs and serve on the group's senior executive team. He will supervise all of DU's public policy, science and habitat conservation operations, including four regional conservation offices and a government affairs office in Washington.
"I believe Paul will bring innovative leadership to Ducks Unlimited's conservation programs, as well as important perspectives on the challenges wetlands and waterfowl conservation will face in the future," Hall said. "He will inherit a tremendous staff of conservation professionals in DU that will continue to provide strong leadership. I believe the addition of Paul Schmidt to our team will position DU for great accomplishments as we move forward."
Schmidt is a career employee with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the past six years, he has been the agency's director of all activities related to the management of migratory birds.
"After almost 33 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, I am thrilled to be selected as the Chief Conservation Officer for Ducks Unlimited Inc.," Schmidt said. "This is an important position within a leading conservation organization. I am very excited to take my passion and experience to Ducks Unlimited with a re-energized spirit and hope for wetlands and waterfowl conservation. This is a critical time for leadership from the private, non-governmental sector in conservation and I want to contribute to this far-reaching mission."
