I am pleased to announce the selection of Andrew Gude and Sarah Clardy for key positions within the Southeast Region`s National Wildlife Refuge System. Andrew Gude is the new refuge manager for Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges in Florida. He is no stranger to Florida having worked previously in both the Vero Beach Ecological Services office and the Florida Keys NWRs. Currently, Andrew is the Service`s Liaison to the Department of the Interior`s Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks in Washington, DC. He is involved with a wide range of policy issues working across all of the Service`s regions as well as working on departmental priority projects, including National Ocean Policy and America`s Great Outdoors. Prior to this, he served as the Ocean and Coastal Refuge Coordinator in Washington. Through his previous experience working in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. Pacific Islands, Andrew played a key role on a team that secured the four large Pacific Ocean Marine National Monuments as Service-managed areas. By early 2009, these 305 million-acre monuments increased the refuge system`s holdings by more than 50 percent. Area II Manager Elizabeth Souheaver, Andrew`s new supervisor, shared with me that she is, "very pleased with the selection of Andrew Gude as the new project leader of the Lower Suwannee Complex. Andrew`s past field and national experiences will be invaluable as the refuge continues to address habitat restoration and climate change issues. Additionally, I look forward to Andrew sharing current national resource priorities and experiences with his staff, colleagues, and conservation partners." Andrew brings a wide array of professional experience to his new position through his previous work as a fishery, wetlands, and wildlife biologist, commercial fisherman, diving instructor, vessel captain, fishing guide, environmental educator and project manager for the Corps. He will begin his manager role on September 25. Sarah Clardy is the new refuge manager for Mountain Longleaf, Cahaba River and Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuges in Alabama bringing ten years of field experience and three years of regional office to the position. She currently serves as the Southeast Region`s Asset Management Coordinator in Atlanta assisting the field in completing construction and maintenance projects. Sarah was first introduced to national wildlife refuges as a volunteer while attending Mississippi State University. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Sciences in 2001, she began her Service career as a SCEP student at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi. Sarah was involved in working with red-cockaded woodpeckers, visitor services, and the hunt program. She also helped create and teach an environmental education curriculum for the Starkville School District`s Noxubee Conservation Center located on the refuge. In 2002, she began work at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Florida, and was involved in many aspects of refuge, partner and resource management for the five refuge complex. During her five years in Florida, she worked on issues related to endangered species, including the West Indian manatee and the Whooping crane. In 2007, Sarah became the refuge manager for Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana, where she managed issues including cooperative farming for waterfowl and moist soil management. Wheeler NWR Complex Project Leader Dwight Cooley, Sarah`s new supervisor shared with me that her, "experience at both the field and Regional Office level and her familiarity with construction and maintenance project planning have equipped her to take advantage of opportunities and address challenges ... at Mountain Longleaf and Cahaba River NWRs. We are excited at her joining our management team." A native of Pearl, Mississippi, Sarah is a Registered Yoga Teacher and enjoys camping, kayaking, hiking, singing, swimming and traveling. She will begin on September 25 These are exciting times as we chart a course for the future of the National Wildlife Refuge System. We are fortunate to have both Andrew and Sarah as leaders in the Southeast Region`s refuge program. Please join me in welcoming them to their new positions. |
