State of the Department of Defense Partners in Flight Program

Richard Fischer, PhDU.S. Army Engineer R&D Center

Vicksburg, Mississippi

DoD Partners in Flight History

1991: DoDPIF was initiated under the vision of Joe Hautzenroder, DoD PIF Coordinator, U.S. Navy.

Jacqueline Schafer, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, I&E, signed the MOA to participate in a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Committee for the Navy, on behalf of DoD. This MOA is referred to as the PIF Federal Agency MOA. Ms. Schafer appointed Joe as the liaison for the Navy and DoD to the MOA.

1997: Under Joe’s direction, Chris Eberly was hired as the DoD PIF Program Manager, with annual funding from the DoD Legacy Resource Management Program. Peter Boice, OSD, has provided program support from the DoD HQ level.

DoD Partners in Flight Mission Statement

To sustain and enhance the military testing, training, and safety mission through proactive, habitat-based management strategies that maintain healthy landscapes and training lands.

This mission support is conducted while working simultaneously to develop cooperative programs and projects with PIF partner organizations ensuring a focused and coordinated approach for the conservation of resident and migratory birds and their habitats.

DoDPIFA Focus on the Mission and Military

Preparedness

DoD Partners in Flight Timeline

1997-2014: For the past 17 years, Chris Eberly worked in a full-time capacity as the DoD PIF Program Leader

DoD Partners in Flight Timeline

1997-2014: For the past 17 years, Chris Eberly worked in a full-time capacity as the DoD PIF Program Leader

Joe Hautzenroder has excelled as the DoD PIF Program Manager

1999: DoDPIF Representatives were selected to act as the DoD PIF WG, with the notion that Reps would perform critical tasks in support of Chris and DoDPIF

2001: National Reps meetings began and were held annually, under the direction of Chris and Joe, except for 2013.

Feb 2014: Chris announced his resignation and moved to a new job in TX effective 1 September. He remained as the DoD PIF National Tech Rep through 30 Aug.

Mar 2014: A subset of WG Reps worked together to discuss options for carrying DoDPIF forward in Chris’ absence

Mar 2014: NMFWA Bird Conservation breakout to discuss options Maintain current structure under OSD Form a new Migratory Birds WG under NMFWA

Mar 2014: OSD pledged support for maintaining current DoDPIF structure with modest funding allocated to support a part-time coordinator

DoD Partners in Flight Timeline

DoD Partners in Flight – WG Leadership

• National Program Coordinator• Rich Fischer

• National Program Representative• Joe Hautzenroder

• DoD Conservation/Natural Resources• Peter Boice, Alyson Dalsimer

So Who Exactly Are We?

I believe we are a tight group of natural resources professionals passionate about the conservation of birds and their habitats on DoD lands (and beyond).

We exist because we care about birds, the mission, and helping to support the troops that rely on realistic training environments.

DoD Bird Conservation Priorities

Mission Support

Partnerships/Cooperation Communication of Guidance and Policies Habitat and Species Management Bird/Animal Aircraft Strike Hazard

(BASH) Monitoring Research Information and Education Stewardship

National Program Coordinator Duties

The National DoD PIF National Program Coordinator who is funded by DoD to provide technical support and expertise regarding migratory bird issues, coordinates inputs from National Reps, and is charged by the DoD Natural Resources Program to: Collect/compile relevant technical information; Monitor trends; Distribute DoD approved information to all

interested and appropriate stakeholders; and Serve as a resource center for relevant technical

information and materials.

National Program Coordinator Duties(per the Strategic Plan)

The National Program Coordinator carries out these duties by:

Coordinating with the appropriate Military Department Secretariat Staff to collect and distribute information in support of DoD approved taskers

Providing DoD approved presentations, when directed, on technical migratory bird information at regional conferences, workshops, and webinars; and

Providing technical assistance to DoD natural resources professionals, when directed by DoD and coordinated through the appropriate Military Department Secretariat Staff.

What I Actually Do Develop and Provide Technical and Subject Matter

Expertise to the Services and installations Implement the Strategic Plan Coordinate Representative Activities and request

assistance for various tasks, projects, SME, etc. Review and rank bird-related Legacy pre- and full-

proposals Plan and implement the annual DoD PIF meeting Lead the DoD Internal Migratory Bird Working Group Lead the DoD/USFWS Mig Bird Working Group Facilitate the transfer of information, tools, technology, and

other deliverables to the field Develop a Strategic Monitoring Plan for DoD Assist with developing Statements of Need for Legacy,

SERDP, and ESTCP

• Web Site – www.dodpif.org • Webinar Series - facilitate presentations, with Chris

Petersen coordinating DCO connection• Listserve (DODPIF-L)• Photo Library

• Shutterfly account coordinated by:• Paul Block, NAVFAC LANT, Tim Burr

• Birds of North America Online (BNA)• Education/Outreach Materials• Participation in partnerships/initiatives• Legacy project administration (bird-related projects)• Facilitate DoD PIF Rep communication

Additional Coordinator Activities

DoD PIF Representatives(per the Strategic Plan)

As part of DoD’s Natural Resources Program, DoD has established an ad hoc network of subject matter experts who provide technical information in support of migratory bird management on DoD lands

DoDPIF Representatives(per the Strategic Plan)

Provide Military Service natural resources managers with information and tools to address the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats in support of INRMP development and implementation both by responding to NRM queries and by providing relevant information (e.g., webinars, articles, reports, studies) via listserv.

Provide proactive, science-based conservation and management strategies and subject matter expertise to appropriate stakeholders when called upon.

DoDPIF Representatives(per the Strategic Plan)

Increase awareness, involvement, and communication among natural resources managers and others within DoD (e.g., via listserv, websites, training webinars).

Present technical migratory bird information to national and regional conferences/workshops/webinars.

Inform OSD and Military Service leadership about current migratory bird conservation issues, goals, and objectives (e.g., through presentations to the DoD Conservation Committee).

DoD Partners in Flight - Representatives

• Northeast Region• Jeff Bolsinger (NY, VT, PA)• John Joyce (NJ, DE, MA, CT, RI, ME, NH)

• Southeast Region• Kyle Rambo (MD, WV, KY)• Michael Wright (VA)• Alan Schultz (NC, SC, TN)• Greg Fleming (GA, FL, AL, MS)• VACANT (TX, OK, AR, LA)

• Midwest Region• Vacant (MO, IL, IN, WI, MI, OH)• Jeff Keating (KS, NE, SD, ND, MN, IA)

DoD Partners in Flight - Representatives

• Western Region• John Haddix (AK)• Vacant (WA, OR)• Vacant (CO, WY, MT)• Tiffany Shepherd (CA)• Gary Cottle (NV, ID)• John Arnett (AZ)• Robbie Knight (UT)• Frans Juola (HI)• Trish Cutler (NM, w. TX)

DoD Partners in Flight - Representatives

• U.S. Marine Corps• Diane Walsh (Western Installations)• Vacant (Eastern Installations)

DoD Partners in Flight – WG Representatives

• HQ U.S. Marine Corps• Vacant

• HQ U.S. Navy• Tammy Conkle

• HQ U.S. Army• Maj. John Mire

• HQ U.S. Air Force• Julie Jeter

DoD Partners in Flight – WG Representatives

• Research and Monitoring• Rich Fischer

• BASH• Vacant (Matt Klope)

• Education and Outreach• Bob Schallmann

• Renewable Energy Working Group• Chuck Carroll

• NEPA Template Working Group• Greg Fleming

• Invasive Species• Dana Bradshaw

DoD Partners in Flight – WG Representatives

• DoD Mission-sensitive Priority Species• Jay Rubinoff

• NMFWA Liaison• John Haddix

• Seabirds/West Coast WG• Bob Schallmann

• INRMP Update WG• Tiffany Shepherd

• DoD PIF Rep Emeritus• Tim Burr

• DoD PIF Photo Librarian• Paul Block

DoD Partners in Flight – USFWS Liaisons

• National/MBTA• Eric Kershner/Lesley Kordella

• Endangered Species• Lew Gorman

• Sikes Act• Jarry Kosa

DoD Partners In Flight Program

www.dodpif.org