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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>WASHINGTON,
D.C. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today praised President Obama’s
announcement that he intends to nominate Thomas Strickland for Interior
Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. <br>
<br>
I have known and worked with Tom Strickland for more than twenty years, Salazar
said. From the work we did together to create the Great Outdoors Colorado
program to his service as U.S. Attorney, his record and devotion to public
service is second to none. As my Chief of Staff, he has helped us hit the
ground running at the Department of the Interior so that we can restore the
trust of the American people in its government and fulfill President
Obama’s agenda. In addition to serving as the chief of staff
for the 67,000 employees of the Department, he would bring to the Assistant
Secretary position the type of vision for our parks, wildlife, and open spaces
that our country needs right now.<br>
<br>
The Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks oversees and coordinates
policy decisions for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. Strickland would serve concurrently in as Chief of Staff for
Interior and, if nominated and confirmed, as Assistant Secretary for Fish,
Wildlife and Parks. <br>
<br>
Strickland served as United States Attorney for the District of Colorado from
1999 through 2001. As U.S. Attorney, he represented the United States on
a broad range of public land and environmental issues. <br>
<br>
Together with Secretary Salazar, Strickland was a founder and board member of
Great Outdoors Colorado, the lottery-funded endowment for Colorado’s
public parks system that was created in 1992.<br>
<br>
>From May 2007 to when he joined Interior as Chief of Staff, Strickland was
executive vice president and chief legal officer of United Health Group.
Before that, he was a partner of the Hogan & Hartson law firm,
serving as Managing Partner for the firm' Colorado offices. He was also a
member of Hogan & Hartsons executive committee and worked closely with
United Health Group as outside legal counsel on a variety of issues. <br>
<br>
>From 1982 to 1984 Strickland served as director of policy for Colorado Governor
Richard D. Lamm, advising the governor on all policy and intergovernmental
issues. He went on to serve and chair the Colorado Transportation
Commission from 1985 to 1989. Strickland also served as legal counsel to
the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.<br>
<br>
Strickland received his bachelors in English literature, with honors, from
Louisiana State University, where he was an All-SEC Academic Football
Selection. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of
Texas School of Law. He is a member of the Colorado, Minnesota and Texas
Bars.</span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Byron
Leydecker, JcT</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Chair, Friends
of Trinity River</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>PO Box 2327</span></i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Mill Valley, CA
94942-2327</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 383 4810
land</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 519 4810
cell</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net"><span style='color:blue'>bwl3@comcast.net</span></a></span></i></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org"><span style='color:blue'>bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org</span></a>
</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>(secondary)</span></i><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="http://fotr.org/"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.fotr.org</span></a>
</span></i></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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