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| Executive Director |
| The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is appointed
by our 10 Commissioners. The Executive Director is the Commission's chief executive officer
as well as chief waterways conservation officer, and has charge of all activities under the jurisdiction of the Commission.
The Director is a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council,
Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board, Water Resources Council, and Wild Resource Conservation Board and an ex
officio member of the Boating Advisory Board and the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. |
| Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D. |
| Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D., is the ninth Executive Director of The Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). He was sworn in on January 27, 2004.
 Dr. Austen wasted little time making an impact for the anglers and boaters of Pennsylvania. Shortly after
his appointment the Commission secured the first fishing license and boat registration funding increase since 1995.
He helped ensure that monies from the Growing Greener II special bond funds were made available to reinvest in infrastructure
that supports the aquatic environment and recreational fishing and boating, and he completed the adoption of a five-year
strategic plan for the Commission. He has been called upon to provide leadership at a national level, as well, serving
as chairmen of the core workgroup that developed the landmark National Fish Habitat Initiative.
Dr. Austen has more than 27 years of fisheries and natural resource management experience in a variety of top-level
positions. Before coming to the PFBC, Dr. Austen was the head of the Technical Support Section of the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources (IDNR) and an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Sciences at the University of Illinois. He held that post since 1996 and was responsible for the integration of a
watershed and ecosystem approach to natural resources within the Office of Resource Conservation. From 1994-1996 he
was the Head of the Fisheries Analysis Section of the IDNR.
He earned a Doctorate from Iowa State University, the Department of Animal Ecology, in 1992. In addition, he holds
a Master of Science Degree with an emphasis in Fisheries Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from South Dakota State University. He is a Certified
Fisheries Professional by the American Fisheries Society. Dr. Austen’s work has been published in a variety
of professional publications. |
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| Protect-Conserve-Enhance (PCE) Articles |
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2008 Director's Tour blog
 Day: 1,
2, 3, 4 |
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2007 blog
Day:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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About
PFBC
Commissioners |
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Executive Directors
(date appointed) |
Charles A. French
April 25, 1949 |
William Voigt Jr.
September 12, 1955 |
Albert M. Day
July 18, 1960 |
Robert J. Bielo
January 1, 1965 |
Ralph W. Abele
January 3, 1972 |
Edward R. Miller
June 1, 1987 |
Lawrence W. Hoffman
March 1, 1994 |
Peter A. Colangelo
October 3, 1994 |
Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D.
January 27, 2004 |
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