Sam D. Hamilton (July 5, 1955 – February 20, 2010) was the 15th director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from September 1, 2009, until February 20, 2010.^[1]

Hamilton, a native of Lawrenceville, Georgia, received his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1977.^[1]

Prior to his appointment as Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Hamilton served as the agency's southeast regional director, based in Atlanta, Georgia.^[1] Hamilton was credited with leading the restoration efforts in the Florida Everglades.^[1] He also oversaw coastal fort restoration efforts along the Gulf of Mexico following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, both of which damaged wildlife refuges, wetlands and other habitats.^[1]

He was appointed the director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 2009 and was sworn in on September 15, 2009.^[1] As director, Hamilton oversaw 8,700 employees who are responsible for nearly 150,000,000 acres (610,000 km²), including approximately 550 national wildlife refuges nationwide.^[1]

Sam Hamilton suffered a heart attack while skiing at the Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado.^[1] He died on February 20, 2010, at the age of 54. He was survived by his wife, Becky; sons, Sam Jr. and Clay; and a grandson, Davis.^[1]

In February 2012, the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, was renamed to Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in honor of Hamilton.^[2]

References

External links

• Sam D. Hamilton biography
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mourns Loss of Director Sam Hamilton
• Official web site of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service