Jeffrey (Jeff) Fleming currently serves nearly 800 employees in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southwest Region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The region is home to the ancestral lands of more than 80 tribal governments. Before coming to the Southwest, Jeff served in roles for the Service both at headquarters in Washington, DC, and the Service’s Southeast Region in Atlanta, Georgia. He joined the Service in July 2003. Before then, Jeff’s career included work with the Izaak Walton League of America, a 10-year stint on Capitol Hill working on communications and conservation policy. Finally, he began his career as a journalist serving as a reporter first for what is now The Chattanooga Times Free Press and then The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tennessee. Jeff earned a degree from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville.
Jeff is pleased to join the SJV Management Board because he believes, “Joint ventures are powerful engines for collaborative, innovative, and future-focused conservation. They have a way of drawing diverse partners together. I served on the Central Hardwoods JV management board in the Mississippi Valley and am similarly looking forward to learning from SJV leaders and contributing to the success of this international joint venture.”