Hamilton named U.S. Fish and Wildlife director

Hamilton named U.S. Fish and Wildlife director    The Senate confirmed Sam D. Hamilton's nomination Friday to director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
   Hamilton, a career biologist and manager at the agency, had served as director of Fish and Wildlife's southeast region office in Atlanta. With a 1,500-person staff, he was responsible for the oversight and management of more than 350 federally listed threatened and endangered species and 128 national wildlife refuges.
   Prior to becoming regional director, Hamilton served as assistant regional director of the ecological services in Atlanta and the agency's Texas state administrator in Austin.
   As part of its diverse mission, Fish and Wildlife is responsible for protecting against illegal exports and imports of wildlife. The agency defines wildlife shipments as any living or dead wild animal, its parts, and products made from it. Wildlife not only includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, but also invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, arthropods, mollusks and coelenterates. Fish and Wildlife is also responsible for U.S. compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).