TPW Commission Meets January 23-24

Carter Smith Officially Takes The Helm At TPWD On January 28

Carter Smith will attend the January commission meeting, although his first “official” day on the job is January 28. Smith was named executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in December at a special meeting of the TPW Commission in San Antonio. Smith left The Nature Conservancy of Texas to take the top job at TPWD. "Carter Smith is a well-respected conservationist and has proven his ability to develop successful partnerships with landowners and others," said TPW Commission Chairman Peter Holt. "He is a hunter and angler and a seventh generation Texas landowner. He understands the conservation challenges we face in our rapidly growing and changing state and will provide a fresh perspective as we strive to meet our mission." Smith has been with The Nature Conservancy of Texas since 1998 and has been the state director since 2004. He is a native of Central Texas and began his career in 1992 at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a management intern, assisting in the Private Lands and Public Hunting programs. He has a wildlife management degree from Texas Tech and a master’s degree in conservation biology from Yale University. Smith replaces Robert L. Cook, who retired on August 31, 2007. Cook has been executive director since February 2002 and is serving as interim executive director until Smith officially takes over.