The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Director Martha Williams announced the selection of Sara Boario to serve as the Regional Director for the Service’s Alaska Region. Sara comes to this role with nearly 20 years of public service experience in Alaska, including 16 as a leader in conservation and public lands stewardship. During that time, she has earned a reputation for strategic vision-setting, creative partnerships, and prioritizing the ways we listen, share, and build relationships both inside and outside the Service. She begins her new role on March 14.
“Sara was raised across Alaska and has a deep commitment to working with all of Alaska’s communities as shared stewards of fish, wildlife, and habitat,” said Martha Williams, FWS Director. “Her abilities and passion for Alaska and its people will make her an excellent leader for the Region and our many dedicated public servants there.”
Since 2014, Boario has served as Assistant Regional Director for External Affairs and recently as acting Deputy Regional Director. In these positions, she has been a senior advisor on the region’s highest profile policy challenges and provided critical leadership on efforts to strengthen and heal relationships with Indigenous peoples, elevate the voices of young Alaskans in international Arctic discussions, and connect with urban partners. She has also pioneered new ways to connect the public with the Service’s work and mission through creative virtual programs, including the award-winning Arctic Refuge Virtual Bird Fest.
Prior to her time with the Service, Boario established a reputation as a collaborative leader. She began her federal career as a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, where she served in multiple roles, and led creation of the Chugach Children’s Forest, the Classrooms for Climate partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a multi-disciplinary planning process in Prince William Sound. Her earlier public service included work as Chief of Staff for Alaska State Senator Georgianna Lincoln.
“I grew up learning from Alaskans, and in my career I’ve had the privilege to work alongside countless partners across the state on a wide-range of projects and issues. It is an honor to contribute my experience and passion for the state, its people, our agency, and the wildness that sustains us all,” Boario said.
Boario has deep roots in Alaska. She was raised in welcoming communities across Alaska – Yakutat, Wrangell, Sand Point, Fairbanks - where she grew up living with and from the natural world. Her experiences in these places and the people she learned from, shaped her personal and professional values, and set the stage for her commitment to long-lasting, successful partnerships. She also leads the Service on critical diversity and inclusion challenges, both within and outside the agency, including her role as a prominent voice on LGBTQ+ issues.
Boario comes from a large, spirited, music-loving, and adventurous family that stretches from Juneau to Fairbanks. She loves exploring the outdoors and playing sports with her two sons, Leo and Raineri.
