Safari Club International (SCI) and Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) said Dr. William E. Moritz will be the new Executive Director for the worldwide organization. Dr. Moritz will begin as the Executive Director of SCI and SCIF on Oct. 1, 2010.
“I am very excited and proud to name Dr. Moritz as our Executive Director,” said SCI President Dr. Larry Rudolph. “SCI and SCI Foundation have always been advocates for hunting, hunters and science-based wildlife conservation. Dr. Moritz's substantial experience as the Washington Office Director will increase SCI and SCIF's focus on those core missions.”
“The opportunity to lead the foremost global hunting advocacy and wildlife conservation organization is the culmination of a career dedicated to sustainable wildlife conservation and hunting management,” said Dr. Moritz. “I look forward to working with staff and volunteer members, our corporate partners, and the wildlife conservation community to build on the successful foundation of SCI and SCIF missions and programs.”
Over the past three years, Dr. Moritz has directed the SCIF Department of Science-Based Conservation Programs & Research in the Washington, DC office. Under his leadership, the programs led by his staff have been the most ambitious in the organization's history. Program successes of particular note include SCI Foundation's participation in a $15 million caribou predator study in Newfoundland, an African Lion survey in Tanzania, and establishing Marco Polo argali sheep surveys in Tajikistan providing credible science to once again establish a sustainable hunting season.
Also, as the Director of Hunter Advocacy, he and his staff successfully participated in the defense of two Supreme Court cases, facilitated hundreds of meetings with Federal lawmakers, advocated to protect hunter access on federal land and lobbied to increase funding for land conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Before joining SCI & SCIF in 2007, Moritz served as the Wildlife Division Chief for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
