NPCA Supports Nomination of Tommy Beaudreau for Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary and Shannon Estenoz for Assistant Secretary of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Washington, DC – Today, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) announced its support for President Biden’s recent nominees to the Department of Interior (DOI). Tommy Beaudreau nominated for deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI), and Shannon Estenoz, nominated for Assistant Secretary of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, would both play instrumental roles in supporting the mission of the National Park Service to protect and keep unimpaired our most incredible resources – natural, cultural and historic – for future generations to experience and enjoy.

Tommy Beaudreau would bring years of public service to the deputy secretary position, including serving as the first director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management from 2011 to 2014 and later as chief of staff of DOI during the Obama administration. NPCA has worked with Beaudreau throughout his career on a number of important park issues from preventing extreme hunting methods in Alaska’s national preserves, to advocating for more park funding through the passage of the NPS Centennial Act to designating a variety of national monuments, including Pullman and Katahdin Woods and Waters.

Shannon Estenoz would bring nearly 30 years of conservation experience to the Assistant Secretary of Fish, Wildlife and Parks position. Estenoz most recently worked as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Policy for the Everglades Foundation and previously served as DOI’s Director of Everglades Restoration Initiatives and the Executive Director of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force under the Obama administration. During her tenure at DOI, Estenoz oversaw Everglades restoration projects like the rebuilding of the Tamiami Trail bridge, often coordinating with multiple federal agencies, stakeholders and local communities.

Our parks and their wildlife are facing unprecedented threats, from encroaching development, air and water pollution, climate change, and record visitation. Now, more than ever, we need strong leaders like Tommy Beaudreau and Shannon Estenoz to speak up for our treasured landscapes and the irreplaceable wildlife they protect.

Statement by Theresa Pierno, President and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):

“With years of conservation experience and a deep commitment to preserving national parks and public lands, NPCA supports Tommy Beaudreau for deputy secretary at the Department of the Interior. Throughout his previous tenure as chief of staff at Interior, Beaudreau supported efforts to conserve more public lands that better tell the diverse stories of our country’s shared history and improve access for all through the designation of Pullman and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monuments. And he was unwavering in his efforts to increase funding for park infrastructure and critical wildlife protection programs. Beaudreau is a committed conservationist and has demonstrated his ability to work in a bi-partisan manner–working effectively with both Republican and Democratic administrations.

“Shannon Estenoz is an excellent choice to lead Interior’s efforts to protect and enhance our country’s national parks and their fish and wildlife. With years of conservation experience and a deep commitment to our country’s natural resources, she is prepared to tackle head on the obstacles facing our parks and other public lands, including threats from development, air and water pollution, climate change, record visitation, and ever-present funding challenges for the agencies managing these resources. She is no stranger to the Interior Department, previously developing critical restoration policies for the Everglades, coordinating with local and tribal communities, and leading restoration projects in parks, including the reconstruction of the Tamiami Trail bridge. As a fifth generation Floridian of Cuban descent, Estenoz would bring a critical and unique voice to this role and a commitment to building a more inclusive and welcoming National Park Service.

“We look forward to the swift Senate confirmation of Beaudreau and Estenoz and to working alongside the Interior Department to ensure the protection and future of our national parks.”

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its nearly 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.