Dayton picks Landwehr for DNR commissioner
Gov. Mark Dayton has hired a lobbyist for a conservation organization to lead the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Dayton today named Tom Landwehr, who is currently assistant state director of the Nature Conservancy, as his DNR commissioner.
Here's the news release:
Governor Dayton appointed Tom Landwehr as Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. Landwehr brings both an insider's knowledge and an outsider's perspective to the agency. He has served as a City Council Member and as an Instructor at the University of Minnesota's School of Natural Resources. He also served for seventeen years at DNR both as a scientist and as a Wildlife Manager. With a Master's Degree in Business, Landwehr understands that conservation and resource management must be properly balanced to promote economic prosperity and support jobs. Landwehr is widely respected by people in the conservation, recreation and business communities. He brings to the agency a reputation as someone with creative and innovative solutions to many of Minnesota's top natural resource issues.
"I believe that Tom Landwehr has the years of experience in resource conservation and management, as well as 17 years of service in the DNR, to bring strong leadership to that vitally important agency," said Governor Dayton. "No other agency of state government affects as many Minnesotans' lives directly as the DNR. At its best, the agency is viewed as a wise steward of our state's natural resources for the benefit of all our citizens and for future generations. Tom's mandate from me is to bring out the best in the agency and all of its people."
"I am honored to serve Governor Dayton and the citizens of Minnesota in this critical position", said Landwehr. "By bringing together all those with a stake in the future of our state's resources, I hope to show that sound conservation and vital communities are a natural combination. We need to have a Department of Natural Resources that works for all Minnesotans."
Landwehr began his career at DNR in the early 1980's as a research biologist, and quickly moved on to greater responsibility as Wildlife Manager for over 5 years and as the Wetland Wildlife Program Leader for nearly ten. After leaving DNR in 1999 he was State Conservation Director for Ducks Unlimited in Minnesota and Iowa until 2003 and most recently has served as Assistant State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. He has also served on the Shoreview City Council where he served from 1995 to 2002. He has been an active member of his community for many years, serving on multiple boards and commissions. He has an MS in Wildlife Management from the University of Minnesota, and an MBA from the Carlson School of Management. Landwehr lives in Shoreview with his wife Patty and 2 children, He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing, canoeing, camping and boating.
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