Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Conservation Commission has selected Jason Sumners as the next director of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), effective June 1, 2024. Sumners currently serves as the deputy director of resource management for MDC and will succeed Sara Parker Pauley, who will retire after 30 years of public service. Sumners will become the tenth director in the Conservation Department’s 87-year history.

As deputy director of resource management, Sumners had responsibility and oversight for the resource management efforts of the agency, including statewide resource management, regional resource management, and protection. He also led the regulations committee. Prior to his deputy director role, Sumners served as Science Branch chief, leading a team of more than 80 scientists that specialize in fish, forest, and wildlife research and management. He began his career at MDC in 2008 as a private lands deer biologist and later became the head of the state’s deer management program.

Sumners grew up in Lincoln, where his love for the outdoors began.