Orien is passionate about building a broad conservation coalition that includes people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. In his role as the Deputy Assistant Regional Director of the Migratory Bird and Science Applications Programs for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Mountain-Prairie Region, he helps lead a diverse and talented team to protect, restore and conserve fish and wildlife populations and their habitats.
Prior to his current role, Orien worked as a wildlife biologist for 13 years with the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Inventory and Monitoring Program in the Pacific Southwest and Mountain-Prairie Regions where he supported Refuges with science-driven decision making, helped revise policy on habitat management planning, and served on the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Conservation Planning Work Group.
After spending his early years in the redwoods of California, Orien attended Stanford University where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Earth Systems. He studied secretive marsh birds and their habitat relationships for his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley.
Orien lives in Denver with his partner CJ and border collie-Belgian shepherd mix Mino. When he’s not working, Orien enjoys hiking, backpacking, birding, playing/coaching water polo, cooking, gardening, and writing.