Scott Kahan

Scott Kahan is the Regional Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Northeast Region since 2011. He oversees 76 units of the NWRS including the 3 million acre Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine Monument which is jointly managed with NOAA. Originally from Massachusetts, Kahan began his career in 1989 and is a 30+ year veteran of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He has led the development of several policies for the NWRS including those for how the USFWS manages conservation easements, and the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program.

In addition to serving as Regional Chief of Refuges, Kahan has acted in several other leadership positions in the region including as assistant regional director for science applications and as deputy regional director. Under Kahan’s leadership, the National Wildlife Refuge System has added a new six-state national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Learn more about national wildlife refuge (Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge), several large landscape conservation easements, and a growing list of Urban Refuge Partnerships.

In his free time, Kahan loves to fish on his ocean kayak, hike and mushroom hunt with his wife Michelle, and see his grandkids whenever he can.