Education and Certificates
B.S. Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, 1983

M.S. Wildlife Management, West Virginia University, 1989

Ph.D. Range Ecology, Utah State University, 1999

Experience
Michael is a range ecologist with over 25 years experience working with communities and institutions to identify and solve complex socio-environmental problems.  He has expertise in statistics, plant identification, a broad range of field research, ArcGIS and ArcMap. 

Michael became interested in the environment as a member of the Boy Scout and Eagle Scout Society.  After graduating with his MS in Wildlife Management, he applied his expertise to solving issues related to integrating marginalized societies in resource management in foreign countries. 

He has published on the effects of fire and grazing in savanna landscapes, is coauthor on the impacts of conflict on biodiversity and protected areas, and is author of a management plan for brown bears on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. He has also created a management plan for Awash National Park, Ethiopia.  Michael earned his doctorate degree at Utah State University, looking at small-scale issues related to vegetation dynamics in Omo National Park, Ethiopia.  In 1989, Michael was co-recipient of the Kevin Kinsley Outstanding Graduate Student Award from West Virginia University, and in 1999 he was recipient of the Robins Award for Most Outstanding Graduate Student, from Utah State University. 

Michael joined the CNRIT team in June 2006, and is now working to resolve issues related to the Kuchi herders, livestock production and rangelands in Afghanistan. He currently lives full-time in Kabul and is the Chief of Party and Principal Investigator for the PEACE Project.

Interests
Michael enjoyes hiking, hunting, canoeing, basketball, and skiing.  In his spare time, he also likes to work on his 1967 International Truck.

Technical Skills
SAS, SYSTAT, ArcGIS, ArcMap