Regional Director Ren Lohoefener. (photo: USFWS)

Ren Lohoefener has assumed the leadership of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's California and Nevada Region, the Service announced today.  Dr. Lohoefener comes to Sacramento, Calif., from Portland, Ore., where he was the Regional Director of the Service's Pacific Region. He replaces Steve Thompson, who retired in August.

"I am looking forward to helping the excellent Service people in this region further our strong commitment to work with all partners to conserve natural resources," Lohoefener said. "We face many difficult conservation challenges in Nevada, California, and the Klamath Basin and meeting these challenges will require innovation, adaptability and strong partnerships."

As Regional Director of the Sacramento-based California and Nevada Region, Lohoefener will oversee management of 46 National Wildlife Refuges, three National Fish Hatcheries, the California-Nevada Fish Health Center and nine Ecological Services field offices in California, Nevada and the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon.
 
Lohoefener joined the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1989 after working for six years as an ecologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service. Before that, he was a Research Associate and Adjunct Professor at Mississippi State University. Since joining the Fish and Wildlife Service, Lohoefener has been a field biologist, the agency's Texas State Administrator and Assistant Regional Director of the agency's Southwest Region. While in the Southwest, he worked with 11 National Wildlife Refuges, four National Fish Hatcheries, two Fisheries Management offices and the Ecological Services program. He became Regional Director of the Pacific Region in September 2006. 

A native of Kansas, Lohoefener received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Fort Hays State University in Kansas and his Doctorate degree from Mississippi State University. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army.