SALEM — Curt Melcher is the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission’s choice to be next director of the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Melcher was deputy director under former director Roy Elicker and has been interim director since September. He worked several years in the Columbia River management program.
Melcher and commission chairman Mike Finley will discuss Melcher’s terms of employment later this month.
The new director graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He has been with the agency for 28 years and will supervise a staff of more than 1,100 employees and a two-year budget of $345 million.
Melcher, 51, was selected over finalist Ed Bowles, fish division administrator, and Krystyna Wolniakowski, former director of the Western Partnership Office of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
