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Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Chooses Melcher as New ODFW Director by Staff Columbia Basin Bulletin, February 20, 2015

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has made Curt Melcher its choice to be the next director for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Melcher has served as ODFW interim director since September 2014.

Commission Chair Mike Finley and Melcher will meet to discuss the terms of his employment later this month.

Melcher was among three finalists being considered for the position following a national search for candidates. The other finalists were Edward Bowles, Fish Division administrator, ODFW; and Krystyna Wolniakowski, former director, Western Partnership Office, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

"We are very pleased at the prospect of having Curt as the new director and are confident he is the right person to lead this premiere fish and wildlife agency," said Finley.

As director, Melcher would report to the Commission and manage a department with more than 1,100 employees, and a biennial operating budget of $345 million.

Melcher is a native Oregonian, who graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor of science degree in biology. He has worked for ODFW for 28 years. Melcher has served as the deputy director for ODFW, accountable for all fish and wildlife programs leading over 1,200 employees. He was appointed the interim director in September 2014.

"I'm excited and humbled at the thought of this opportunity," Melcher said. "It would be a great honor to lead the dedicated, professional staff at an agency that has so much to offer the state of Oregon."

Additional background on Melcher can be found on the ODFW website at www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/docs/ODFW_Director_Candidates.pdf

Melcher replaces Roy Elicker, who retired in September 2014 after serving seven years on the job.