WASHINGTON-- Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today named Shane Wolfe as press secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Wolfe has served as deputy press secretary since August 2004. He replaces Dan DuBray, who moved to Interior's Bureau of Land Management to be Assistant Director for Communications.

"I am especially pleased to announce Shane's appointment," said Norton. In working with Shane over the past year and a half, he has demonstrated his communications acumen and proven himself to be a valuable member of Interior's communications team."

Before joining the Interior Department, Wolfe worked as press officer for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. He was the primary press contact for media queries and interview requests related to the Iraqi Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry, Human Rights Ministry and the Iraqi judicial system.

From 1994 through 2000, he worked as a broadcast journalist, reporting and anchoring for two NBC television affiliates -- WICU in Erie, Pa. and WHIZ in Zanesville, Ohio -- as well as WKLM-FM in Millersburg, Ohio.

A native of Ohio, Wolfe graduated with honors from Kent State University's School of Journalism and Mass Communications, earning a B.S. degree in broadcast news in 1997. He received his law degree from the University of Akron School of Law in 2003. He is a member of the Ohio bar.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation's principal conservation agency. It includes the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Minerals Management Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Surface Mining and Office of Insular Affairs.