John F. Turner

John F. Turner (born March 3, 1942) was Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from 1989 to 1993 and United States Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs from 2001 to 2005.

Early life

John F. Turner was born in Moose, Wyoming. He was raised at Jackson Hole, where his father owned Triangle X Ranch. He was educated at the University of Notre Dame, receiving a B.A. in biology in 1964. He was assistant director for the University of Notre Dame foreign studies program in Innsbruck for 1964-65. He then attended the University of Michigan and received an M.S. in wildlife ecology in 1970.

Career

Turner then returned to Jackson Hole as a partner with Triangle X Ranch. In 1983, he was elected to the Wyoming Senate. He served as the Wyoming Senate's vice president from 1983 to 1985; senate majority floor leader from 1985 to 1987; and president of the Wyoming Senate from 1987 to 1989. He was also vice chairman of the board for the National Wetlands System Advisory Board from 1983 to 1987 and was a member of the National Wetlands Policy Forum 1987-88.

In 1989, President of the United States George H. W. Bush named Turner Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He served there until 1993, when he became president and chief executive officer of The Conservation Fund. He worked there until 2001, when President George W. Bush nominated Turner to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; he subsequently held office until July 2005.

Turner became the first ever Beverly and Eldon Spicer Visiting Professor in Environmental and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming in 2006. Since leaving public service, Turner has served on the Board of Directors of International Paper, Northeast Utilities, Peabody Energy, and Ashland Inc.