Gary Frazer

Gary Frazer oversees the day-to-day operations of the Service, including providing executive direction through the Regional Directors, Native American programs, Diversity and Inclusion, and the National Conservation Training Center.

Previously, Gary served as the Assistant Director for Ecological Services for 15 years, where he led transformational change in the program and built a strong team that is advancing the Service mission and conservation work across the nation. He is a recognized national authority on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with a clear vision and constant focus on improving the effectiveness of the ESA for the species that need its help and for the public that are impacted by its requirements.

A well-respected and trusted leader, he understands the importance of working with others and strives to build collaborative relationships that will advance conservation, meaningfully engage the many publics that we serve, and lead to durable conservation outcomes.

Gary grew up in a small farming community in southeastern Iowa. He earned a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University in 1977 and an M.S. degree in Forestry with a Wildlife Specialty from Purdue University in 1981.