Dr. Tuggle works extensively in a collaborative manner with other federal, state and local resource agencies; the private sector; and non-governmental environmental groups, in order to accomplish goals and objectives that promote fish and wildlife conservation. He has maintained this collaborative, productive and positive interaction within FWS and with its partners throughout his career with the Service.

He provides program direction on numerous environmental issues of national significance including: water resource development and associated wetland and upland habitat protection and mitigation; habitat conservation and restoration; endangered species; transportation; energy development; National Wetlands Inventory mapping activities; Coastal Barrier Resources Act; conservation efforts on military installations; marine mammal protection; International wildlife conservation; and other related conservation issues that impact fish and wildlife resources.

As the Regional Director for the Southwest Region, he provides policy direction for conservations activities in the region under key environmental laws including the Endangered Species Act, National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Partnerships For Wildlife Act, Federal Power Act, Federal Aid, Emergency Wetlands Resources Act, Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Sikes Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and other related conservation laws under which the Service has specific trust responsibilities.

Dr. Tuggle holds a B.S. in Biology from Fort Valley State College, Fort Valley, GA (1975); and advanced degrees in Zoology from The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH (M.S., 1977 and Ph.D., 1982). Dr. Tuggle’s academic pursuits and efforts have produced a total of 16 publications in eight referred scientific journals and three chapters in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Publication.