Ducks Unlimited Inc., the wetlands and waterfowl conservation group, announced today that H. Dale Hall has been named the organization’s new chief executive officer. A former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2005-2009), Hall is widely respected as a visionary conservationist and one of the country’s most effective wildlife professionals.

“We are extremely pleased that Dale Hall is stepping into this key role for Ducks Unlimited,” said DU President John R. Pope. “Dale is a consummate conservation leader whose energy, vision and dedication will help our organization meet the serious challenges facing North America’s waterfowl. In light of increasing threats to the quantity and quality of our continent’s waterfowl habitat, he is uniquely qualified to lead DU at this critical juncture.”

During Hall’s 31-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), he served in numerous roles at field office, regional, and national levels. As director, he was responsible for approximately 7,500 USFWS employees working out of the national headquarters and nine regional offices. Before joining the USFWS in 1978, Hall spent four years in the U.S. Air Force, where overseas assignments took him to Italy and the Philippines, and a year managing a commercial aquaculture operation in Mississippi.

“Ducks Unlimited exemplifies what Americans can accomplish when they dedicate themselves to a worthy cause and work cooperatively toward a common goal,” Hall said. “Throughout my USFWS career, I saw firsthand how DU’s habitat work and public policy efforts make a lasting difference for waterfowl, and I am honored to take on a leadership role in this outstanding organization.

“For more than 70 years, Ducks Unlimited’s dedicated members have worked with unbounded energy and resolve to conserve North America’s waterfowl habitat and safeguard our waterfowling tradition,” Hall continued. “My pledge is to respect and build on that heritage as DU meets new challenges and strives to secure the future for our continent’s waterfowl, wetlands and grasslands.”