Annapolis, MD - Douglas P. Wheeler, a conservationist and lawyer who has held leadership posts in national and state natural resource agencies and served on the boards of national conservation groups, has joined the board of the Chesapeake Conservancy.

Wheeler, a resident of Washington, DC, joined the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1969, serving as Assistant Legislative Counsel. He later became the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. From 1991 to 1999, Wheeler served as California's Secretary for Natural Resources, exercising responsibility for all of the state's natural and cultural resource programs.

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He has also worked extensively with nonprofit environmental and conservation organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation (Executive Director from 1977 to 1980); the American Farmland Trust (President from 1980 to 1985); the Sierra Club (Executive Director, 1985 to 1987); and the World Wildlife Fund (Vice President, 1987 to 1991).

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Currently, Wheeler is a partner in the environmental practice of Hogan Lovells US, LLP in Washington, DC. His practice focuses on federal regulatory issues, including counsel to clients on land use, natural resource management and historic preservation. Hogan Lovells is counsel, pro bono publico, to the Chesapeake Conservancy.

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"I am honored to join the Board of the Chesapeake Conservancy", Wheeler said, "because of its demonstrated leadership in the development of innovative, private sector tools by which to protect the nationally-significant resources of the Bay and its environs".

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Wheeler was elected to the board at the Conservancy's December board meeting and will take his seat immediately.

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"Doug brings a wealth of experience in conservation and the workings of government conservation agencies to our board. We are delighted to have him as a colleague," said Charles Stek, chairman of the board.

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He is also a member of the board of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the Conservation Lands Foundation and serves as an advisor to American Farmland Trust, The Conservation Fund and Ecosystem Investment Partners. He is a graduate of Hamilton College and the Duke University School of Law.

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Wheeler is married and has two sons.