Van Vooren Selected for Deputy Director

Southwest Regional Supervisor Al Van Vooren has been selected as Deputy Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. He will fill the position left by retired Assistant Director Jerry Mallet. The selection was announced by Director Rod Sando at a September 5 staff meeting. Van Vooren, regional supervisor since 1997, is a native of Moline, Illinois. He holds a bachelor's degree in fish and wildlife management from Iowa State University. He has 32 years of experience in the profession, mostly in fisheries. The last 15 years have been with Idaho. Prior to coming to Idaho Van Vooren worked 11 years for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in regional fisheries management and research positions, part of the time dealing with interstate and international management issues on Lake Erie. He also worked six years for the Iowa Conservation Commission on inter-jurisdictional fisheries issues on the Mississippi River. Since coming to Idaho in 1985, Van Vooren served eight years as a state fisheries manager and four years as fisheries research manager before becoming Southwest Region Supervisor. In that capacity, he was responsible for serving about one-third of the state's license buyers. Van Vooren is an avid angler and hunter, and counts as his greatest trophies the time spent afield with his wife Margie, his two sons Colby and Clark, and his Lab Jackson. "I look forward to serving the public in this position. I'm especially interested in getting the public more involved in resource management while maintaining the Department's history of sound professional management. This is an exciting opportunity to work with Director Sando, the Commission, the Department, and the public as we get back on our feet financially and set the course for future resource management." Van Vooren will be replaced as Southwest Region Supervisor by Don Wright, currently supervising the Upper Snake Region. These changes are set to take effect October 1.