ESPN Conservation

Sam Hamilton, who has served as the FWS Southeast Regional Director since 1997, has recently been appointed Director of the service by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Hamilton's appointment has been widely praised.

During his 30-year career with the FWS as Southeast Area Regional Director, Hamilton has overseen programs covering nearly every aspect of conservation, from refuges to endangered species. During his tenure at the FWS, Hamilton managed a $484 million budget that covered a region of more than 3.5 million acres including parts of the Caribbean. He was also instrumental in efforts to restore parts of the Everglades after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"From an angler's and hunter's perspective, Sam is an excellent choice," said BASS Conservation Director Chris Horton. "He's a fellow angler that has worked closely with the outdoor community in the southeast. We look forward to working with him on a national scale as he takes the helm of the US Fish and Wildlife Service."

Hamilton is a native of Starkville, Miss.

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