Will Meeks Email & Phone Number

Bloomington, Minnesota, United States

Regional Director, Midwest Region, providing leadership for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working with partners, Tribes, states, and communities to conserve natural resources. The Midwest Region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. We have 800 employees who are committed to partnering with others to conserve species and their habitats in the majestic Great Lakes, the region's expansive large river systems, northern forests and tallgrass prairies. We work to protect, restore and enhance these treasured natural resources from invasive species and environmental contaminants, while managing the habitat vital to the wide range of fish and wildlife found here and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities for the public. The region is committed to• Expanding partnerships offering innovative opportunities to enhance the region• Healthy fish and wildlife trust species populations and habitats to support them• Providing the public with quality hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and other wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands

Serve as the Assistant Regional Director (ARD) - National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) in the ten state and Caribbean Islands, Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The Southeast Region is the largest region in the NWRS in terms of number of staff, public use, and infrastructure. I provide leadership over the entire NWRS program in the region to provide vision, strategic thinking, partnerships, and communication internally and externally. As ARD, I am responsible for all aspects of refuge management to meet U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Priorities. This includes providing leadership in the areas of human capital, natural resource management, maintenance, public use, fire management, and law enforcement.

Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex

Served as the project leader overseeing strategic conservation delivery and public use at the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex. The 59,000+ acre Complex is comprised of seven national wildlife refuges across 100 miles of coastal South Carolina and Georgia. I oversee a multi-disciplinary staff that support priority wildlife habitat for the American public. This includes: wildlife habitat management, visitor use opportunities, and partnering with others on the landscape to achieve mutually-beneficial projects.

Lakewood, Co

Led the regional National Wildlife Refuge System program in the eight state Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Serve on the Regional Directorate Team comprised of senior leaders providing vision and guidance at the regional level. Provide leadership and guidance for approximately 500 employees. Lead strategic conservation planning and delivery across national wildlife refuges, conservation easement estate, and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program. Annually guide approximately $100M of conservation funds. Provide leadership and direction to the region’s realty program. Currently, the Mountain-Prairie region leads the nation in conservation easement acquisition and PFW projects. Over three million acres have been acquired to date. Lead the science program for the region to strategically orient resources across the landscape, maximizing biological outcomes. Build partnerships through effective communication, collaboration and maintaining relationships. Provide leadership and recommendations to senior leaders in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior. Regularly engage in government-to-government negotiations, Departmental, Agency, NGO, and congressional contacts.

Bismarck, Nd

Served as the Project Leader for the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) office in Bismarck, ND. Provide leadership for scientists and biologists that provide the USFWS, partners of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV), and others with technical science support and information to aid in achieving conservation goals and objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The office serves as a focal point for migratory bird monitoring, planning, and evaluation across the U.S. portion of the PPJV as well as other areas in the Region. I provided leadership and directed HAPET’s involvement in gathering, analyzing, and assembling scientific information and bringing this to bear on conservation issues relating to waterfowl and other migratory birds, and their habitat needs. Cooperative efforts with partners and an adaptive approach are considered integral to HAPET’s operation. Evaluated and monitored conservation treatments like the USFWS conservation easement program and USDA Farm Bill programs. HAPET functions in a leadership role to develop, refine, and use spatial analysis and complex Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to solve landscape level habitat and population conservation challenges.

Arlington, Va

I served as the Deputy Division Chief (Natural Resources and Conservation Planning) in the Headquarters Office, FWS - National Wildlife Refuge System. Within the Division, I coordinated, supervised, and provided leadership, in the Wildlife Resource, Planning, Fire Management, Air Quality, and Natural Resources Program Center branches. I administered and directed activities and was responsible for budget and policy development, coordination, and execution for the Division under the Division Chief. I communicated regularly with congressional members and their staff on refuge-related issues. I provided leadership, supervision, and direction for the Branch of Wildlife Resources. The Branch provides leadership on a range of refuge management related activities including the following: wilderness policy and refuge-specific issues such as invasive species and pest management; national biological support; water resources, conservation biology, and general refuge management; marine resources; contaminants; and migratory birds and endangered species. I provided program and staff leadership in policy development and implementation; technical assistance and oversight in the development of Comprehensive Conservation Plans and step-down management plans; proposals to create new or expand existing refuges (Preliminary Project Proposals, Land Protection Plans, and NEPA documentation); development of products, materials, and training courses to facilitate consistent implementation and application of policy; and budgetary information on refuge planning and policy issues.

Homer, Ak

Served as the Deputy Refuge Manager of Alaska Maritime NWR. Responsible for leadership and program development for refuge programs including: Biological, Information Technology, Administrative, Land Management, Public Use, Ship Operation, and Maintenance. Alaska Maritime is a 4.9 million acre refuge comprised of >2,500 islands, rocks, headlands, and spires in coastal AK. Lands in the refuge possess many designations including, International Biosphere Reserve, National Historic Landmarks, National Historic Monuments, proposed Marine Protected Areas, and Wilderness Areas. Provided leadership and direction to the interdisciplinary biological program which is nationally and internationally recognized. Coordinated land management activities on the refuge in compliance with regulations including the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, Wilderness Act, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), and Comprehensive Conservation Planning documents. Responsible for the development of partnerships leading to successful conservation efforts. These included non-governmental organizations (TNC, WWF, Wilderness Society, Audubon Society), state (AK Dept. Fish and Game, AK Dept. Env. Conservation, AK State Coastal Program) and federal (USDA-APHIS, EPA, DoE) partners.

Kenmare, Nd

Responsible for the management of Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge (LNWR). The 26,900 acre prairie refuge is the largest of its kind in USFWS ownership in the northern Great Plains. Also managed the Lostwood Wetland Management District. The District is comprised of 56 Waterfowl Production Areas (12,506 ac), wetland and grassland easements (>56,000 ac), and Shell Lake NWR (1,835 ac). Oversee, manage, and coordinate the entire management on LNWR including grazing, prescribed fire, reseeding, weed control, and haying. Responsible for the administration of the 5,570 acre Lostwood Wilderness Area under provisions of the Wilderness Act. Supervised and led permanent employees to carryout habitat management, law enforcement, environmental education, private lands, public use, infrastructure development and maintenance, and biological programs.

Devils Lake, Nd

Developed, coordinated, implemented, and supervised the complete biological program for the Devils Lake Wetland Management District Complex. The Complex includes: 210 Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) (approx. 43,000 acres), Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge (approx. 12,000 acres), Kellys Slough Project Area (3,966 acres), Sullys Hill National Game Preserve (1,674 acres), 11 limted-interest easement national wildlife refuges, and 2,627 Waterfowl Production Area Wetland Easements (>154,000 acres) encompassing 8 counties in northeastern North Dakota. Leader in partnership development and securing funding for collaborative conservation activities. These included numerous Challenge Cost Share Grants, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding, and other grants including EPA, ND State Water Commission, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust to conduct management-oriented biological activities, as well as public outreach in the District.

Kearney, Ne

Conducted Partners for Fish and Wildlife activities on private lands in coordination with the Sandhills Management Program in north-central Nebraska. Assisted landowners with upland and wetland restoration work in the Sandhills landscape. Habitat improvements included: rotational grazing systems, wetland restoration, riparian restoration, stream erosion control and maintenance and restoration of sub-irrigated wet meadow habitats. Surveyed and designed wetland restoration projects. Provided permitting for private lands projects from the NE Department of Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Nebraska State Historical Office. Worked closely with five different Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Offices, NE Game and Parks Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Natural Resource Districts.

Masters Of Science, Wildlife Management

Bachelor Of Science - Fisheries And Wildlife Biology