Management Project
Resume:
CRAIG B. SWOPE
** ******* ****** . *********, ** 15905 . ********@*******.*** .
Experienced Wildlife Biologist with expertise in project management,
writing
management plans and assessments, wildlife consulting, firearms training,
building
cooperative relationships, and resolving human wildlife conflicts.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
. More than 11 years of experience in the wildlife management field,
including 7 years as a Supervisory Wildlife Biologist for the Federal
government.
. Managed multiple large scale projects simultaneously, including
writing agreements, logistics planning, and tracking budgets.
. Skillfully managed partnerships and cooperative relationships based on
knowledge and trust.
. Exceptional problem solver with strong interpersonal and negotiation
skills.
. Entrusted with all facets of Wildlife Services operations in Western
Pennsylvania.
. Independently written wildlife management plans, assessments, monthly
and yearly reports, work and financial plans, project summaries, and
peer-reviewed articles.
. Proven self-starter and leader that can work independently while
contributing to the success of the entire team.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Wildlife Biologist/District Supervisor
09/2003-08/2010
USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Bolivar,
PA
. Supervised 14 employees, including one subordinate supervisor and
managed western PA.
. Managed approximately 1.2 million dollar budget comprised of Federal,
state, and local monies.
. Negotiated agreements (contracts), wrote monthly/quarterly reports,
final project reports, environmental compliance (NEPA) documentation,
memorandums of understanding, use agreements, performance plans, and
other technical materials.
. Represented Wildlife Services on numerous multi-agency task forces
including: Livestock Protection, Chronic Wasting Disease, Feral Swine,
Aviation Safety, and Rabies Management.
. Guided the implementation of the PA WS Oral Rabies Vaccination
program.
. Coordinated the activities of WS and our state and local partners.
. Partnered with the aviation industry in Pennsylvania by providing
wildlife training, direct control, technical assistance, grant funding
requests, and writing management plans and assessments.
. Responsible for procuring wildlife management equipment and supplies.
. Highly skilled at planning, organizing, and coordinating operations to
manage wildlife.
. Determined the appropriateness of the management methods/procedures
used and their effectiveness, including proper NEPA documentation and
reporting protocols.
. Proficient at determining, modifying, and applying wildlife management
techniques, methods, and procedures to maximize efficiency, comply
with funding, and utilize accepted techniques.
. Complied with regulations and used appropriate biological concepts.
. Planned, implemented, and participated in wildlife surveys and
research.
. Extensive experience presenting technical information to small and
large groups.
. Prepared reports that document activity, observations, events, and
other relevant or required data, independently and usually without
review by supervisor.
. Capable of independently making decisions concerning work priorities
and operational needs.
. Routinely planned work assignments, established work schedules,
assigned tasks to team members, evaluated the effectiveness of
completed operations and provided budget estimates.
. Directed multiple projects that were in progress concurrently.
. Approved the scope of wildlife management projects, authorized
funding, assigned resources and monitored progress.
. Negotiated adjustments to project timetables, budgets, scope, and
personnel as needed.
. Highly skilled at supervising, managing and directing complex
programs, projects, and work units comprised of professional,
technical, and support staff.
Research Assistant
08/2001-09/2003
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
. Designed and implemented an MS project focused on human dimensions of
deer management.
. Coordinated research efforts with various organizations, partners, and
agencies.
. Implemented an extensive public relations campaign including personal
communication, posters, brochures, and presentations, as well as,
various media sources.
. Regularly conducted presentations for professional organizations and
sportsman's groups.
. Responsible for hiring, training, and supervising 40+ field
technicians.
. Trained employees in the use of computers (Waypoint, Windows, MS
Office, and GPS).
. Created an MS Access database for the collection of real-time data
entry in the field.
. Applied GPS and GIS technology to study hunter field behavior.
. Performed the necessary data analysis for journal publications and
assisted in writing progress reports to various cooperating agencies.
. Researched hunter participation, attitudes, perceptions, motivations,
and field behavior and wrote several literature reviews pertaining to
human dimensions of wildlife management and white-tailed deer
management.
. Conducted statistical analysis using SPSS, SAS, and Excel.
. Mapped hunter behavior and movements using GIS.
. Assisted with the logistical planning for all phases of this project
including budget planning.
Biologist Aide 05/2000-
11/2000
The Pennsylvania Game Commission
Harrisburg, PA
. Conducted radio telemetry to track habitat usage of hen turkeys.
. Participated in public outreach, including giving presentations to
local hunter organizations.
. Located nests, performed cause-specific mortality investigations, and
conducted flush counts.
. Utilized handheld GPS units and topographic maps daily.
Wildlife Technician
05/1999-08/1999
The University of Tennessee
Tallulah, LA
. Trapped and handled threatened Louisiana black bears as part of a mark
recapture project.
. Constructed and set modified Aldrich spring-activated snares.
. Collected biological data from captured bears.
. Used ATVs, handheld GPS units, topographical maps, and chemical
immobilization drugs daily.
EDUCATION
Postgraduate Coursework
The Pennsylvania State University
38 Semester Hours (GPA: 3.7)
Relevant Coursework: Statistics; Population Parameters; Sociology;
Population Ecology; Forest Ecology
B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Science - 12/2000
The Pennsylvania State University
133 Semester Hours (GPA 3.2)
Relevant Coursework: Statistics; Biology; Technical Writing; Wildlife
Conservation;
Recreation Management; Ornithology; Natural Resource Public Relations;
Forest Resource Measurements; Wildlife Management; Conservation Biology;
Biometrics
VOLUNTEER WORK
Wildlife Technician
06/2002-08/2002
ECASE Upper Wabash River Basin Project - Purdue University
. Trapped small mammals and mesocarnivores using live traps; captured
aquatic and terrestrial herpetofauna; identified and sampled woody
species; collected forest stand measurements.
Wildlife Technician
11/2001-12/2001
Pennsylvania Game Commission
. Certified as a white-tailed deer aging technician; collected
harvest data including sex, weight, and age; extracted a tooth for
laboratory analysis; recorded antler measurements.
Independent Wildlife Consultant
04/2000
Sand County Foundation in cooperation with PA DCNR
. Applied distance sampling techniques to count white-tailed deer pellet
groups; categorized forest understory and species composition.
Independent Study
02/2000-05/2000
The Pennsylvania State University
. Researched small mammal and white-tailed deer sampling methods;
established line transects and sampling plots using GIS to determine
population size; generated a methods paper for sampling Penn State's
Experimental Forest.
Wildlife Student Mentor and Judge
04/1999, 04/2000
Pennsylvania 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Project
. Facilitated environmental education and interpretation; acted as student
mentor in wildlife studies; judged participants.
Ruffed Grouse Survey
10/1998
The Pennsylvania State University
. Conducted line transect drumming and flush count surveys; recorded
vegetation type, percent cover, and location of flushes using distance
sampling techniques.
RELEVANT TRAINING
Certified Wildlife Biologist (TWS) - Pending
Legislative and Public Affairs Risk Communication Training - 2010
Work Place Safety Training - 2010
NRA Certified Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun Training Counselor - 2009
ICS 100, 200, 300 Emergency Response - 2008
NRA Certified Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun Instructor - 2007
WS Leadership Training - 2005
ATV Safety - 2005
Alpha Chloralose Trainer - 2005
APHIS Supervisory Training - 2004
Qualified (Certified) Airport Wildlife Biologist - 2003
Chemical Immobilization Training - 2003 & 2006
PA Class B Drivers License
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Diefenbach, D. R., J. C. Finley, A. E. Luloff, R. Stedman, C. B. Swope, H.
C. Zinn, G. J. San Julian. 2005.
Bear and Deer Hunter Density and Distribution on Public Land in
Pennsylvania. Human
Dimensions of Wildlife. 10:201-212.
Puskas, R. B., J. W. Fischer, C. B. Swope, M. R. Dunbar, R. G. McLean, and
J. J. Root. 2010. Raccoon
(Procyon lotor) movements and dispersal associated with ridges and
valleys of Pennsylvania:
implication for rabies management. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.
10:1089.
Root, J.J., R.B. Puskas, J.W. Fischer, C.B. Swope, M.A. Neubaum, S.A.
Reeder, and A.J. Piaggio. 2009.
Landscape genetics of raccoons (Procyon lotor) associated with ridges
and valleys of
Pennsylvania: implications for oral rabies vaccination programs.
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic
Diseases 9:583-585.
Stedman, R, D. R. Diefenbach, C. B. Swope, J. C. Finley, A. E. Luloff, H.
C. Zinn, G. J. San Julian, and G.
Wang. 2004. Integrating Wildlife and Human-Dimensions Research Methods
to Study Hunters. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 68:762-773.
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