Biden taps Obama-era official to lead Fish and Wildlife Service

President Biden has nominated Martha Williams to lead the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) after she informally serving in the role since the start of the Biden administration.

Williams was previously the director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and has also previously served in the Interior Department during the Obama administration. 

From 2011 to 2013, Williams was the deputy solicitor for parks and wildlife, legally representing FWS and the National Park Service. Her nomination was announced on Thursday.

In a statement, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland praised her as knowledgeable and experienced. 

“Martha brings with her decades of experience, deep knowledge, and a passion for conservation, wildlife management, and natural resources stewardship,” Haaland said. 

“I look forward to continuing to work with her as the Department carries out its mission to protect America’s most precious resources and as we answer President Biden’s call to action to conserve, connect, and restore the lands, waters, and wildlife upon which we all depend on.”

Williams is the second Montana nominated to serve in a key role on public lands by Biden. Biden’s pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management, Tracy Stone-Manning, previously led its Department of Environmental Quality.