Preston Cole
{{Short description|American conservationist (born 1961)}}
{{infobox officeholder
|name = Preston Cole
|order = 10th
|title = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
|governor = Tony Evers
| term_start = January 7, 2019
| term_end = November 23, 2022
| predecessor = Dan Meyer
| successor = Adam N. Payne (designee)
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1961}}
|birth_place =
|residence =
|alma_mater = University of Missouri
|occupation = Forester
}}
Preston D. Cole (born 1961) is a retired American conservationist and was secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources during the first term of Governor Tony Evers (2019–2022).{{Cite web|url=http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/1219evers.pdf|title=Governor-elect Evers Announces Key Cabinet Appointments|last=|first=|date=|website=www.thewheelerreport.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-12-21}} Cole previously served as the Chair of the State Natural Resources Board.{{Cite web|url=https://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/2014/06/preston.htm|title=Natural Resources Board Chairman Preston Cole -- Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine -- June 2014|website=dnr.wi.gov|access-date=2018-12-21}} He was first appointed to the board by Governor Jim Doyle and was reappointed by Governor Scott Walker.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/1219greenfire.pdf|title=Wisconsin's Green Fire Applauds Selection of Preston Cole as DNR Secretary|last=|first=|date=|website=www.thewheelerreport.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-12-21}}
Biography
Cole previously served as the Commissioner of the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/19/cole-promises-rely-science-dnr-after-evers-appoints-him-head-agency/2361176002/|title=Preston Cole promises to lean on science in DNR decisions after Tony Evers appoints him to run agency|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en|access-date=2018-12-21}} Prior to that, Cole was the Director of Operations for the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article223306645.html|title=Evers picks Milwaukee leaders for top Cabinet slots|website=thestate|language=en|access-date=2018-12-21}} Additionally, he previously served as the Parks Superintendent for the City of St. Louis, as well as a Forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbay.com/content/news/Evers-picks-Milwaukee-leaders-for-top-Cabinet-slots-503132381.html|title=The Latest: Evers defends Cabinet picks from Milwaukee|last=WBAY|website=www.wbay.com|date=19 December 2018 |language=english|access-date=2018-12-21}}
Cole received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from the University of Missouri and was the first African American to graduate from the degree program.{{Cite web|url=https://www.outdoornews.com/2018/12/19/gov-elect-tony-evers-names-preston-cole-new-dnr-secretary/|title=Gov.-Elect Tony Evers names Preston Cole new DNR secretary|date=2018-12-19|website=Outdoornews|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-21}} Cole was involved with Future Farmers of America in high school.{{Cite web|url=https://city.milwaukee.gov/Comm-Biography.htm#.XBxxWi2ZNrY|title=Commissioner Preston Cole |website=City of Milwaukee |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182619/https://city.milwaukee.gov/Comm-Biography.htm#.XB0wVRXP2Uk |archive-date= December 21, 2018 |access-date= December 31, 2022 |via=Wayback Machine }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before = Dan Meyer }}
{{s-ttl|title = Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |years= January 7, 2019{{spaced ndash}}November 23, 2022 }}
{{s-aft|after = Adam N. Payne (designee) }}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Preston}}
Category:State cabinet secretaries of Wisconsin
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century Wisconsin politicians
Category:University of Missouri alumni
Category:African-American people in Wisconsin politics
Category:People from St. Louis
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:American conservationists
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