Figured Named Game Commission Northeast Region Director; Zaffuto Named Game Commission Northcentral Region Director

DALLAS, Pa., June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that Daniel Figured has been named the director of the agency's Northeast Region.  Figured, who previously served as the Northeast Region Law Enforcement Supervisor, fills the vacancy created when Steve J. Schweitzer retired on April 13, 2012. 

"It is a great pleasure to announce the selection of Dan Figured as the new Region Director for the Northeast Region of the Pennsylvania Game Commission," Roe said. "Dan is a highly qualified officer who has demonstrated the necessary skills and leadership for the position. We have every confidence that Dan will do an exceptional job."

As region director, Figured will be responsible for all Game Commission information and education programs and wildlife protection activities in the agency's 13-county Northeast Region.  He also will oversee the habitat improvement projects and all other land management activities on the nearly 367,000 acres of State Game Lands in the region.

A graduate of the 23rd Class of the Game Commission's Ross Leffler School of Conservation, Figured was assigned to a Wildlife Conservation Officer district in Delaware County in 1996.  In 2006, Figured was promoted to Northeast Region Law Enforcement Supervisor.

During his career with the Game Commission, Figured has been recognized for his service by being named the Northeast Region nominee for the Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of Year in 2000, and the Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association Wildlife Officer of the Year in 2003.

Prior to joining the Game Commission full time, Figured served as a Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer in Lackawanna County. 

A native of Scranton, Lackawanna County, Figured graduated from West Scranton High School.  He also earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture science from Pennsylvania State University.  He currently resides in Olyphant, Lackawanna County.

The agency's Northeast Region is comprised of: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.  The office is at the intersection of Routes 118 and 415 in Dallas, Luzerne County.  The phone number is 570-675-1143.

ZAFFUTO NAMED GAME COMMISSION NORTHCENTRAL REGION DIRECTOR

JERSEY SHORE, Lycoming County - Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that Barry Zaffuto has been appointed as the new director for the agency's Northcentral Region.  Zaffuto, who previously served as the Southwest Region Land Management Supervisor, fills the vacancy created when Dennis Dusza retired on April 13, 2012. 

"Bringing many special skills to the Northcentral Region, it is a pleasure to announce the selection of Barry Zaffuto as the next Region Director," Roe said. "Barry has a wide range of experience in the area of land management and oil, gas and mineral operations on state game lands. This was a critical requirement for this position as it is one of the major challenges in the region."

As regional director, Zaffuto will be responsible for all Game Commission information and education programs, wildlife management and law enforcement activities in the agency's 10-county Northcentral Region. He also will oversee the habitat improvement projects and all other land management activities on the 326,138 acres of State Game Lands in the region.

Zaffuto began his career with the Game Commission in 1985, as a Wildlife Conservation Officer trainee in the 19th Class of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation, and was part of the last RLSC Class to graduate from the former training facility in Brockway, Jefferson County. Upon graduation in 1986, he was assigned to serve as a Wildlife Conservation Officer in the Warren County.

From 1988 until 1995, Zaffuto served as a Land Management Group Supervisor, where he was responsible for habitat improvement activities and State Game Lands in Cambria and Indiana counties.

In 1995, Zaffuto was promoted to Federal Aid Supervisor for the Southwest Region and, in 2000, transferred to serve as the Land Management Supervisor for the Southwest Region.

While Land Management Supervisor, Zaffuto served on the Flight 93 Task Force that assisted in creating the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Somerset County. Additionally, he spearheaded the acquisition and creation of State Game Land 93 adjacent to the site to honor the heroes and protect the boundaries and integrity of the memorial.

Prior to employment by the Game Commission, Zaffuto was employed for nine years with the federal government, primarily with the National Park Service, as well as with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Zaffuto graduated from Bishop Carroll High School in Ebensburg, Cambria County, in 1972.  In 1974, he earned an associates degree from Penn State's Altoona campus and, in 1977, a bachelor's degree in park and recreational management from Penn State's University Park campus. 

While employed by the federal government, Zaffuto graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, as a certified federal law enforcement officer and received certification as a police firearms instructor.

Zaffuto is a member of numerous local, state and national conservation, wildlife and sportsmen's organizations. Since 1976, he has served as a Forest Fire Warden with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.

Zaffuto and his wife, Debbie, currently reside in Ebensburg, Cambria County. They have two adult children: Jason, a teacher residing in Ebensburg, and Stephen, an attorney residing near Philadelphia.

The agency's Northcentral Region is comprised of Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Union counties. The office is along Route 44 just south of Jersey Shore. The telephone number is 1-570-398-4744.

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission