Regional Director for the Midwest Region

Robyn Thorson has been Regional Director of the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since April 2003. The Region includes FWS field offices in 8 states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin) to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The Regional Office is located in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and provides a central headquarters to support the 8-state operations of the Service through program leadership, administrative services, policy coordination and a strong emphasis on partnerships and outreach.

Prior to her appointment as Regional Director for the Midwest, Robyn's served most of her 22-year federal career in the far west, starting in the Pacific West Regional Office in Portland and including almost a decade working in Alaska. She has also worked in the Southwest Region for FWS and served 18 months with the U.S. Geological Survey as Associate Chief Biologist for the Western Region. At two times in her career she has worked in FWS headquarters in Washington, D.C., including Assistant Director for External Affairs immediately prior to her appointment as Regional Director in the Midwest Region. In career positions and assignments she has worked with the full array of FWS programs, including refuges, fisheries, business administration, endangered species, migratory birds and research.

An avid traveler and reader, Robyn now makes her home in St. Paul, Minnesota, and enjoys exploring the Midwest. She hopes to see a game in every Major League ballpark in America. A native of Seattle, Washington, she earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Oregon School of Law and was an attorney for the State of Washington before starting her federal career. She maintains her license to practice law in Washington.