WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today praised President Obama’s announcement that he intends to nominate Thomas Strickland for Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
“I have known and worked with Tom Strickland for more than twenty years,” Salazar said. “From the work we did together to create the Great Outdoors Colorado program to his service as U.S. Attorney, his record and devotion to public service is second to none. As my Chief of Staff, he has helped us hit the ground running at the Department of the Interior so that we can restore the trust of the American people in its government and fulfill President Obama’s agenda. In addition to serving as the chief of staff for the 67,000 employees of the Department, he would bring to the Assistant Secretary position the type of vision for our parks, wildlife, and open spaces that our country needs right now.”
The Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks oversees and coordinates policy decisions for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Strickland would serve concurrently in as Chief of Staff for Interior and, if nominated and confirmed, as Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Strickland served as United States Attorney for the District of Colorado from 1999 through 2001. As U.S. Attorney, he represented the United States on a broad range of public land and environmental issues.
Together with Secretary Salazar, Strickland was a founder and board member of Great Outdoors Colorado, the lottery-funded endowment for Colorado’s public parks system that was created in 1992.
From May 2007 to when he joined Interior as Chief of Staff, Strickland was executive vice president and chief legal officer of UnitedHealth Group. Before that, he was a partner of the Hogan & Hartson law firm, serving as Managing Partner for the firm’s Colorado offices. He was also a member of Hogan & Hartson’s executive committee and worked closely with UnitedHealth Group as outside legal counsel on a variety of issues.
From 1982 to 1984 Strickland served as director of policy for Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm, advising the governor on all policy and intergovernmental issues. He went on to serve and chair the Colorado Transportation Commission from 1985 to 1989. Strickland also served as legal counsel to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Strickland received his bachelor’s in English literature, with honors, from Louisiana State University, where he was an All-SEC Academic Football Selection. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law. He is a member of the Colorado, Minnesota and Texas Bars.