05-17-2012, 08:10 PM
FT LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA - Ms. Ellen Peel, the much respected president and CEO of The Billfish Foundation, who has also served for three years as a U.S. representative to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), has been named by President Obama as U.S. Commissioner to ICCAT.
The announcement by the White House, along with the appointments of two others, was made May 10. Russell F. Smith III was also named a U. S. Commissioner to ICCAT. The third appointee was Caitlin Durkovich, named to the Department of Homeland Security as Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection.<br />
In making the appointments President Obama said, "It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration and serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."<br />
Because of her passion and dedication to marine resources, Ellen was asked in 2009 to serve as the Acting U.S. Recreational Fishing Commissioner to ICCAT, pending final approval by the President.<br />
ICCAT is a 42-year old inter-governmental fishery organization of some 50 member nations responsible for the conservation of tunas and migratory species like billfish and sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, and its adjacent seas like the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Peel said, "I'm very much honored to be appointed to serve for the White House in the Commissioner position. The challenges are great, but I am committed to advancing and defending the fishing opportunities for all U.S. fishing interests, including raising the priority of both the recreational fishing industry and the billfish species."<br />
Peel recently began her 16th year as the head of TBF, a post many in billfishing and marine conservation say was a position she was born for.<br />
Growing up in Long Beach, Miss., with the Gulf of Mexico as her back yard, she's at home on deep blue water oceans as she is fly fishing a remote trout stream. She broadened her appreciation for the outdoors by working for the National Park Service, before pursuing a law degree at Ole Miss. With a desire to represent big migratory fish including billfish species she continued her studies with a masters of law in marine resources at the Univ. of Washington in Seattle. With her specialization she worked in Washington D.C. at the Center for Marine Conservation getting a solid background with the law-making process.<br />
Despite many challenges like the reduced worldwide populations of billfish caused by commercial longlining and netting, her message has remained clear - good conservation pays in benefits to the fish stocks, the oceans' ecosystems, improved fishing opportunities, strong economies and prepared future generations of ocean stewards and users. Through education, research, science, advocacy and uniting the recreational fishing community as one powerful voice, TBF's accomplishments have been many including key socio-economic work in Central and South America, its Tag & Release program and worldwide technology on three oceans.<br />
Now in its 26th year The Billfish Foundation works globally to advance the conservation of billfish and associated species and to improve the health of oceans and dependent economies. TBF's website is billfish.org. Ms. Peel can be reached at 800-438-8247 ex 108.<br />
###
5/11/2012 TBF PR counsel - Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, Scottsdale, Ariz., USA, 480-951-3654 (ph) -- JohnsonCom@aol.com
THE WHITE HOUSE<br />
Office of the Press Secretary<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />
May 10, 2012
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
"¢ Caitlin Durkovich - Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security<br />
"¢ Ellen M. Peel - United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas<br />
"¢ Russell F. Smith III - United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
President Obama said, "It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration and serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
Caitlin Durkovich, Appointee as Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security<br />
Caitlin Durkovich is the Chief of Staff of the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to joining the Administration in 2009, she was the Director of Emergency Management Programs for Abrams Learning & Information Systems, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia. From 2003 to 2006, she worked as an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, where she worked on pandemic planning and preparedness, as well as the Federal Enterprise Architecture Security and Privacy Profile. From 2001 to 2003, she was the Director of Business Development and Marketing at the Internet Security Alliance. From 1998 to 2001, she was Vice President of iDefense, now known as Verisign, Inc. Ms. Durkovich was Executive Producer of Policy.com for A2S2 Digital Products, Inc. from 1996 to 1998. She received a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University.
Ellen M. Peel, Appointee for United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas<br />
Ellen M. Peel is currently President of The Billfish Foundation, a non-profit sportfishing conservation corporation. Prior to this position, she served as Acting Regional Director for the Center for Marine Conservation in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she developed and implemented conservation strategies for all fish species in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. Ms. Peel is a member of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Advisory Panel for Highly Migratory Species, the International Women's Fishing Association, and the Advisory Committee to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Ms. Peel holds a B.A. from the University of West Florida, a J.D. from the University of Mississippi, and an LL.M from the University of Washington.
Russell F. Smith III, Appointee for United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas<br />
Russell F. Smith III is Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In July 2011, President Obama appointed Mr. Smith as a U.S. Commissioner on the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. He is also an Alternate U.S. Commissioner on the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. From 2002 to 2010, Mr. Smith worked in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), serving first as Director for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and then as Director for International Environmental Policy and Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Before joining USTR, he was a senior attorney with the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He began his legal career as an associate at Spiegel & McDiarmid. He received a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan.
The announcement by the White House, along with the appointments of two others, was made May 10. Russell F. Smith III was also named a U. S. Commissioner to ICCAT. The third appointee was Caitlin Durkovich, named to the Department of Homeland Security as Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection.<br />
In making the appointments President Obama said, "It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration and serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."<br />
Because of her passion and dedication to marine resources, Ellen was asked in 2009 to serve as the Acting U.S. Recreational Fishing Commissioner to ICCAT, pending final approval by the President.<br />
ICCAT is a 42-year old inter-governmental fishery organization of some 50 member nations responsible for the conservation of tunas and migratory species like billfish and sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, and its adjacent seas like the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Peel said, "I'm very much honored to be appointed to serve for the White House in the Commissioner position. The challenges are great, but I am committed to advancing and defending the fishing opportunities for all U.S. fishing interests, including raising the priority of both the recreational fishing industry and the billfish species."<br />
Peel recently began her 16th year as the head of TBF, a post many in billfishing and marine conservation say was a position she was born for.<br />
Growing up in Long Beach, Miss., with the Gulf of Mexico as her back yard, she's at home on deep blue water oceans as she is fly fishing a remote trout stream. She broadened her appreciation for the outdoors by working for the National Park Service, before pursuing a law degree at Ole Miss. With a desire to represent big migratory fish including billfish species she continued her studies with a masters of law in marine resources at the Univ. of Washington in Seattle. With her specialization she worked in Washington D.C. at the Center for Marine Conservation getting a solid background with the law-making process.<br />
Despite many challenges like the reduced worldwide populations of billfish caused by commercial longlining and netting, her message has remained clear - good conservation pays in benefits to the fish stocks, the oceans' ecosystems, improved fishing opportunities, strong economies and prepared future generations of ocean stewards and users. Through education, research, science, advocacy and uniting the recreational fishing community as one powerful voice, TBF's accomplishments have been many including key socio-economic work in Central and South America, its Tag & Release program and worldwide technology on three oceans.<br />
Now in its 26th year The Billfish Foundation works globally to advance the conservation of billfish and associated species and to improve the health of oceans and dependent economies. TBF's website is billfish.org. Ms. Peel can be reached at 800-438-8247 ex 108.<br />
###
5/11/2012 TBF PR counsel - Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, Scottsdale, Ariz., USA, 480-951-3654 (ph) -- JohnsonCom@aol.com
THE WHITE HOUSE<br />
Office of the Press Secretary<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />
May 10, 2012
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
"¢ Caitlin Durkovich - Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security<br />
"¢ Ellen M. Peel - United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas<br />
"¢ Russell F. Smith III - United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
President Obama said, "It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration and serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
Caitlin Durkovich, Appointee as Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of Homeland Security<br />
Caitlin Durkovich is the Chief of Staff of the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to joining the Administration in 2009, she was the Director of Emergency Management Programs for Abrams Learning & Information Systems, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia. From 2003 to 2006, she worked as an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, where she worked on pandemic planning and preparedness, as well as the Federal Enterprise Architecture Security and Privacy Profile. From 2001 to 2003, she was the Director of Business Development and Marketing at the Internet Security Alliance. From 1998 to 2001, she was Vice President of iDefense, now known as Verisign, Inc. Ms. Durkovich was Executive Producer of Policy.com for A2S2 Digital Products, Inc. from 1996 to 1998. She received a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University.
Ellen M. Peel, Appointee for United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas<br />
Ellen M. Peel is currently President of The Billfish Foundation, a non-profit sportfishing conservation corporation. Prior to this position, she served as Acting Regional Director for the Center for Marine Conservation in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she developed and implemented conservation strategies for all fish species in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. Ms. Peel is a member of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Advisory Panel for Highly Migratory Species, the International Women's Fishing Association, and the Advisory Committee to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Ms. Peel holds a B.A. from the University of West Florida, a J.D. from the University of Mississippi, and an LL.M from the University of Washington.
Russell F. Smith III, Appointee for United States Commissioner, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas<br />
Russell F. Smith III is Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In July 2011, President Obama appointed Mr. Smith as a U.S. Commissioner on the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. He is also an Alternate U.S. Commissioner on the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. From 2002 to 2010, Mr. Smith worked in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), serving first as Director for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and then as Director for International Environmental Policy and Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Before joining USTR, he was a senior attorney with the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He began his legal career as an associate at Spiegel & McDiarmid. He received a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan.