Secretary Norton Appoints David P. Smith
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks

WASHINGTON - Interior Secretary Gale Norton has appointed David P. Smith of Austin, Texas, as deputy assistant secretary and counselor to the assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks. In this position, Smith will assist in management oversight and policy direction for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"David Smith has a national reputation as a problem-solver in conservation and parks management," Norton said. "He has earned this new appointment with his work and leadership on parks and wildlife issues, and he will continue to be a valuable asset to my team."

As one of the Bush administration's initial appointees to the department, Smith has been serving in the assistant secretary's office since January 2001. Prior to being designated deputy assistant secretary, he served as counselor to Assistant Secretary Craig Manson.

Smith was a member of the Bush-Cheney Transition Team following his service in the Texas governor's office under then-Gov. George W. Bush. He was an advisor to Gov. Bush on agency policy and appointment issues in the fields of natural resources, conservation, real estate, housing, finance, water and river authorities.

Before devoting his career to public service, Smith was an attorney in private practice in Austin, where he concentrated on federal, state and municipal environmental and land-use regulatory issues.

Smith is a graduate of Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., and the University of Texas School of Law. He currently resides in Alexandria, Va., and is an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman.

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