Katie Murtha Appointed Chief Policy Officer for Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited (DU) announced today that Katie Murtha, Chief of Staff for Representative John Dingell (MI), has been named Chief Policy Officer (CPO) for the organization. She will replace DU’s current Director of Governmental Affairs Gary Taylor, who is retiring from the organization. Murtha will begin her career with DU on Sept. 1.

“Gary has done a great job leading our D.C.-based office, and it was a tough decision to determine who would replace him,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “There were several strong candidates for the position, but we feel Katie is the perfect person to take over our government affairs office and oversee DU’s public policy initiatives.”

Murtha has served on Congressman Dingell’s staff for the past 16 years, holding the Chief of Staff position for the past three. In her duties at Chief of Staff, Murtha has overseen the legislative team, served as liaison with top Energy and Commerce Committee staff for Dingell and managed all aspects of the Representative’s office.

“I have loved working with Congressman Dingell and his staff for more than a decade, but it is time to move forward with my career,” Murtha said. “Given Mr. Dingell’s involvement and passion for conservation, I have learned from the best, and am well-versed on the issues; I believe my experience will be a great asset to DU. I look forward to the new challenges of the CPO position, and am excited to get started.”

DU’s CPO plans, directs and oversees the policies relating to all phases of government relations in DU’s conservation efforts, and provides analysis on proposed legislation and regulations for possible impacts and effects on the organization. Along with keeping her finger on the pulse inside the Beltway, Murtha will also plan and direct public policy conservation campaigns in support of DU’s organizational goals.

For more information, visit www.ducks.org.

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.