United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Illinois Go to Accessibility Information
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Leadership

William J. Gradle
Illinois State Conservationist		 About Our State Conservationist
Bill has been Illinois' State Conservationist for four years. He's been with the NRCS for more than 20 years working to protect and preserve natural resources. Bill received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management for the University of Illinois. His NRCS career has taken him back to his home state of Illinois. Bill grew up in Westmont, IL.

As State Conservationist, Gradle provides leadership and guidance to a network of 98 field offices across the state and works closely with established and new state and federal conservation partners. Illinois ranks second in the nation with more than 10.3 million cropland acres planted with conservation tillage methods, 26% of this total are in no-till. Gradle has helped to implement the newest conservation programs and policies including the 1996 Farm Bill, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and others.

In addition to strong commitments to conservation on the farm, Gradle also supports efforts for conservation of natural resources in rural and urban community settings. With two Urban Resources Partnership (URP) programs in the state (Chicago and East St. Louis), nine Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) offices, and an Urban and Community Assistance office located in the Chicago area, Gradle has confirmed NRCS' commitment to the natural resource needs that exist in rural communities and developing urban environments.

Under the leadership of Bill Gradle, Illinois NRCS continues to maintain a strong soil survey program and is working to provide state-of-the-art soil survey data and interpretations needed by clients. Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) continues to grow. In the last two years, Gradle has also been instrumental in the support and success of many watershed planning groups across the state. These groups are working hard to address local concerns and needs of residents and communities to protect their natural resources and ensure the quality of life.

 
Ivan Dozier
Assistant State Conservationist
(Programs)		  
Lue A. Walters
Assistant State Conservationist
(Management and Operations)		  
Nancy F. Phalen
State Administrative Officer		  
Troy Daniell
Assistant State Conservationist
(Area 1)		  
Steve Mozley
Assistant State Conservationist
(Area 2)		  
Jon Hubbert
Assistant State Conservationist
(Area 3)		  
L. Robert "Bob" Dean
Assistant State Conservationist
(Area 4)		  
William Lewis, Jr.
Assistant State Conservationist
(Area 5)		  
Robert L. McLeese
State Soil Scientist		  
Richard G. Hungerford, Jr.
State Resource Conservationist		  
Manny Wei
Acting State Conservation Engineer		  
Paige E. Buck
State Public Affairs Specialist		  
   

National Leadership