Federal Government.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: Right Moves

Vernon Byrd, a biologist at Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, received the Refuge System Employee of the Year Award. The honor was presented by the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Byrd was recognized for his work to protect marine species of coastal Alaska, such as auklets, puffins, storm petrels and other seabirds. The Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges received the Friends Group of the Year Award. The group aims to protect and champion Alaska's 75 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges. The group has tackled projects to remove invasive plants, reduce invasive horse populations, and educate local communities and national decision-makers on the importance of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.

Beth Pendleton was appointed regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region. Pendleton oversees management of more than 22 million acres of National Forest System lands in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. Pendleton...