MDC names Tony Jaco as new regional administrator in Southeast region

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has named Tony Jaco as the new regional administrator to lead operations in Southeast region, including delivering on strategic priorities and performance measures for the region.

Jaco will also oversee regional public resource management, private land, community conservation, regional planning, recreations use, infrastructure maintenance and repair, and regional business operations and compliance. The regional administrator also coordinates with other MDC branches, including protection, science, education, and communications.

“From our wetlands to our rocky woodlands, the southeast region of the state has the most diverse natural resources with wonderful wildlife habitat and even more wonderful people,” Jaco said. “This opportunity to lead conservation efforts in our region, keep our team relevant, and bring us into the future of conservation is one I don’t take lightly. It’s an honor to serve our community in this way.”

A resident of Jackson, Jaco is a 31-year veteran of MDC. He began his career as an assistant resource forester in St. Joseph. He then worked as a resource forester in Houston and Perryville before being promoted to private land regional supervisor in 2000. In that role, Jaco has provided guidance for private land conservation partnerships across 16 counties and supervised 12 employees. He’s also served as site administrator for the Southeast Regional Office, working across MDC’s divisions toward common goals. Jaco has been a regional leader in major conservation efforts throughout the region, assisting in elk restoration efforts, chronic wasting disease management, and feral hog elimination efforts.

“These regional changes are part of the Department’s larger organizational roadmap for the future to build on the success we’ve had over the last 80 years in delivering on our conservation priorities and serving the citizens of Missouri,” says MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “We also need to be able to adapt as quickly as the world is changing around us, including successfully tackling increasing natural-resource challenges and a decreasing connection to nature by people of all ages.”

MDC has eight regions across the state and each region will be led by a regional administrator. All eight regional administrators report directly the assistant deputy of resource management in Jefferson City to ensure regional operations also remain coordinated at the statewide level. Regional administrators will transition into their new role in December with the final organizational roadmap completed by July 1, 2020.