OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2000

Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/501-4633

BABBITT NAMES KEN SMITH AS ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
FISH AND WILDLIFE AND PARKS

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt has named Kenneth L. Smith as Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish & Wildlife and Parks. Ken Smith has been serving in the position of Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department.

"Ken Smith has been an important member of my leadership team since the beginning of this Administration," Babbitt said. "He has worked tirelessly on natural resource issues and has successfully tackled a number of very tough assignments. I have confidence that he'll bring his energy, commitment and vision to the important work of providing direction and overseeing the National Park Service and the Fish & Wildlife Service."

Prior to his Interior service, Smith worked as environmental policy adviser and Assistant for Natural & Cultural Resources for Arkansas Governors Bill Clinton and Jim Guy Tucker. He oversaw state natural resource agencies and coordinated the passage and implementation of more than 40 major pieces of environmental legislation and regulations. From 1981-1989, he served as Chief of Research for the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and from 1978-1980 was Program Director for the Nature Conservancy in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Ken Smith received a Bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology from Southern Arkansas University and a Master's degree in biology from Arkansas State University. He and his wife, Mary, are residents of Virginia and have two sons.

-DOI-