Gerald Smith promoted to MDC Protection Regional Supervisor for Missouri Ozarks

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News from the region
Ozark
Published Date
09/22/2017
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WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces the promotion of Protection District Supervisor Gerald Smith to the Ozark Protection Regional Supervisor position.

Smith replaces Gary Cravens who recently retired after 41 years of service to conservation.

“We are pleased to announce this promotion, as Gerald has spent the better part of two decades enforcing Missouri’s fish, forest and wildlife regulations in the Ozarks, where he grew up and has displayed a genuine love and respect for the outdoors,” said Dean Harre, MDC’s protection division field chief for the Ozark Unit.

Smith attended Alton High School, and went on to graduate from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) in 1993. He spent the first part of his career with MDC doing research projects on wild turkey and deer, followed by two years as a Wildlife Management Biologist in the private sector.  In July of 1999 he was accepted into the MDC Agent Training Academy.  Upon his graduation, in January of 2000 from the Agent Training Academy, he was assigned as conservation agent in Carter County.  In May of 2003 he transferred to be a conservation agent in Howell, Oregon, and Douglas Counties.  Since May of 2007 he has held the position of Ozark Protection District Supervisor for Carter, Ripley, Oregon, and Howell Counties.

“Still today, Gerald has the same love of the outdoors,” said Harre. “The Ozarks, where he grew up, maintains a special place in his heart.”

Smith said the region holds some of the most beautiful natural areas and diverse outdoor opportunities in the state, and one of his greatest passions is being able to pass along his knowledge and positive experiences of the outdoors on to his own children.;

Smith can be reached at MDC’s Ozark Regional Office at (417)256-7161. For information on MDC careers, go online to mdc.mo.gov/careers.