State of the Department of Defense
Partners in Flight Program
Richard Fischer, PhD
U.S. Army Engineer R&D Center
Vicksburg, Mississippi
DoD Partners in Flight History
 1991: DoDPIF was initiated under the vision of Joe
Hautzenroder, DoD PIF Coordinator, U.S. Navy.
 Jacqueline Schafer, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, I&E,
signed the MOA to participate in a Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Committee for the Navy, on behalf of DoD. This
MOA is referred to as the PIF Federal Agency MOA. Ms.
Schafer appointed Joe as the liaison for the Navy and DoD to
the MOA.
 1997: Under Joe’s direction, Chris Eberly was hired as the DoD
PIF Program Manager, with annual funding from the DoD
Legacy Resource Management Program. Peter Boice, OSD,
has provided program support from the DoD HQ level.
DoD Partners in Flight Mission Statement
 To sustain and enhance the military testing, training,
and safety mission through proactive, habitat-based
management strategies that maintain healthy
landscapes and training lands.
This mission support is conducted while working
simultaneously to develop cooperative programs and
projects with PIF partner organizations ensuring a focused
and coordinated approach for the conservation of resident
and migratory birds and their habitats.
DoDPIF
A Focus on the Mission and Military
Preparedness
DoD Partners in Flight Timeline
 1997-2014: For the past 17 years, Chris Eberly worked in
a full-time capacity as the DoD PIF Program Leader
DoD Partners in Flight Timeline
 1997-2014: For the past 17 years, Chris Eberly worked in
a full-time capacity as the DoD PIF Program Leader
 Joe Hautzenroder has excelled as the DoD PIF Program
Manager
 1999: DoDPIF Representatives were selected to act as
the DoD PIF WG, with the notion that Reps would perform
critical tasks in support of Chris and DoDPIF
 2001: National Reps meetings began and were held
annually, under the direction of Chris and Joe, except for
2013.
DoD Partners in Flight Timeline
 Feb 2014: Chris announced his resignation and moved to a
new job in TX effective 1 September. He remained as the DoD
PIF National Tech Rep through 30 Aug.
 Mar 2014: A subset of WG Reps worked together to discuss
options for carrying DoDPIF forward in Chris’ absence
 Mar 2014: NMFWA Bird Conservation breakout to discuss
options
 Maintain current structure under OSD
 Form a new Migratory Birds WG under NMFWA
 Mar 2014: OSD pledged support for maintaining current
DoDPIF structure with modest funding allocated to support a
part-time coordinator
DoD Partners in Flight – WG Leadership
•
National Program Coordinator
• Rich Fischer
• National Program Representative
• Joe Hautzenroder
• DoD Conservation/Natural Resources
• Peter Boice, Alyson Dalsimer
So Who Exactly Are We?
 I believe we are a tight group of natural
resources professionals passionate about
the conservation of birds and their habitats
on DoD lands (and beyond).
 We exist because we care about birds, the
mission, and helping to support the troops
that rely on realistic training environments.
DoD Bird Conservation Priorities
Mission Support
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Partnerships/Cooperation
Communication of Guidance and Policies
Habitat and Species Management
Bird/Animal Aircraft Strike
Hazard (BASH)
Monitoring
Research
Information and Education
Stewardship
National Program Coordinator Duties
The National DoD PIF National Program
Coordinator who is funded by DoD to provide
technical support and expertise regarding migratory
bird issues, coordinates inputs from National Reps,
and is charged by the DoD Natural Resources
Program to:
 Collect/compile relevant technical information;
 Monitor trends;
 Distribute DoD approved information to all
interested and appropriate stakeholders; and
 Serve as a resource center for relevant technical
information and materials.
National Program Coordinator Duties
(per the Strategic Plan)
The National Program Coordinator carries out these
duties by:
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Coordinating with the appropriate Military Department
Secretariat Staff to collect and distribute information in
support of DoD approved taskers
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Providing DoD approved presentations, when directed, on
technical migratory bird information at regional
conferences, workshops, and webinars; and
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Providing technical assistance to DoD natural resources
professionals, when directed by DoD and coordinated
through the appropriate Military Department Secretariat
Staff.
What I Actually Do
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Develop and Provide Technical and Subject Matter
Expertise to the Services and installations
Implement the Strategic Plan
Coordinate Representative Activities and request
assistance for various tasks, projects, SME, etc.
Review and rank bird-related Legacy pre- and fullproposals
Plan and implement the annual DoD PIF meeting
Lead the DoD Internal Migratory Bird Working Group
Lead the DoD/USFWS Mig Bird Working Group
Facilitate the transfer of information, tools, technology, and
other deliverables to the field
Develop a Strategic Monitoring Plan for DoD
Assist with developing Statements of Need for Legacy,
SERDP, and ESTCP
Additional Coordinator Activities
• Web Site – www.dodpif.org
• Webinar Series - facilitate presentations, with Chris
Petersen coordinating DCO connection
• Listserve (DODPIF-L)
• Photo Library
• Shutterfly account coordinated by:
• Paul Block, NAVFAC LANT, Tim Burr
• Birds of North America Online (BNA)
• Education/Outreach Materials
• Participation in partnerships/initiatives
• Legacy project administration (bird-related projects)
• Facilitate DoD PIF Rep communication
DoD PIF Representatives
(per the Strategic Plan)
As part of DoD’s Natural Resources Program, DoD has
established an ad hoc network of subject matter experts
who provide technical information in support of migratory
bird management on DoD lands
DoDPIF Representatives
(per the Strategic Plan)
 Provide Military Service natural resources managers
with information and tools to address the
conservation of migratory birds and their habitats in
support of INRMP development and implementation
both by responding to NRM queries and by providing
relevant information (e.g., webinars, articles, reports,
studies) via listserv.
 Provide proactive, science-based conservation and
management strategies and subject matter expertise
to appropriate stakeholders when called upon.
DoDPIF Representatives
(per the Strategic Plan)
 Increase awareness, involvement, and communication
among natural resources managers and others within
DoD (e.g., via listserv, websites, training webinars).
 Present technical migratory bird information to national
and regional conferences/workshops/webinars.
 Inform OSD and Military Service leadership about
current migratory bird conservation issues, goals, and
objectives (e.g., through presentations to the DoD
Conservation Committee).
DoD Partners in Flight - Representatives
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Northeast Region
• Jeff Bolsinger (NY, VT, PA)
• John Joyce (NJ, DE, MA, CT, RI, ME, NH)
• Southeast Region
• Kyle Rambo (MD, WV, KY)
• Michael Wright (VA)
• Alan Schultz (NC, SC, TN)
• Greg Fleming (GA, FL, AL, MS)
• VACANT (TX, OK, AR, LA)
• Midwest Region
• Vacant (MO, IL, IN, WI, MI, OH)
• Jeff Keating (KS, NE, SD, ND, MN, IA)
DoD Partners in Flight - Representatives
• Western Region
• John Haddix (AK)
• Vacant (WA, OR)
• Vacant (CO, WY, MT)
• Tiffany Shepherd (CA)
• Gary Cottle (NV, ID)
• John Arnett (AZ)
• Robbie Knight (UT)
• Frans Juola (HI)
• Trish Cutler (NM, w. TX)
DoD Partners in Flight - Representatives
• U.S. Marine Corps
• Diane Walsh (Western Installations)
• Vacant (Eastern Installations)
DoD Partners in Flight – WG Representatives
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HQ U.S. Marine Corps
• Vacant
• HQ U.S. Navy
• Tammy Conkle
• HQ U.S. Army
• Maj. John Mire
• HQ U.S. Air Force
• Julie Jeter
DoD Partners in Flight – WG Representatives
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Research and Monitoring
• Rich Fischer
BASH
• Vacant (Matt Klope)
Education and Outreach
• Bob Schallmann
Renewable Energy Working Group
• Chuck Carroll
NEPA Template Working Group
• Greg Fleming
Invasive Species
• Dana Bradshaw
DoD Partners in Flight – WG Representatives
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DoD Mission-sensitive Priority Species
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Jay Rubinoff
NMFWA Liaison
• John Haddix
Seabirds/West Coast WG
• Bob Schallmann
INRMP Update WG
• Tiffany Shepherd
DoD PIF Rep Emeritus
• Tim Burr
DoD PIF Photo Librarian
• Paul Block
DoD Partners in Flight – USFWS Liaisons
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National/MBTA
• Eric Kershner/Lesley Kordella
• Endangered Species
• Lew Gorman
• Sikes Act
• Jarry Kosa
DoD Partners In Flight Program
www.dodpif.org