Aaron Valenta Email Address

Chief, Division of Restoration and Recovery

Work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit.

I started my professional career with GA DOT as a wetlands specialist. In this position I conducted many endangered species surveys and wetland delineations. I was also able to use my landscape architecture degree in locating, designing, and planting wetland restoration sites. These experiences led me to five years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Wetland Regulatory Branch where I managed a wide range of Corps programs in Northwest Georgia including wetland delineations, nationwide permitting, individual permitting, enforcement, outreach, and teaching wetland regulatory courses. I also gained a fair level of expertise with National Environmental Policy Act document production. For the past 20 years, I have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the southeast regional office. As a regional coordinator I became well versed with habitat conservation plans, NEPA, and federal projects management. I also developed specialized expertise in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and taught compliance courses for several years. For the past eight years I have managed multiple programs including federal projects, wind energy, national wetland inventory, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, and the Coastal Program. Endangered Species Act programs include recovery, various grant programs, reclassification, and status reviews of listed species. Of special note, I have also been heavily involved and in leadership roles for at-risk species conservation, America's Longleaf Restoration efforts, and various collaborative partnership drive efforts.