As the Senior Vice President of Programs, Dr. Shaffer supervises Defenders' habitat conservation, species conservation and law and litigation activities, and a growing regional staff in eight states.

Dr. Shaffer has extensive experience in conservation biology, population viability analysis, and resource economics both as a governmental and non-governmental participant. He has served as consultant for federal and state agencies on various endangered species issues including protection of the grizzly bear, California condor, black-footed ferret and northern spotted owl. He is also widely published in the conservation biology literature.

Prior to joining Defenders, Dr. Shaffer served as director of Heritage Network Operations for The Nature Conservancy (1994-1998), and V.P. for Resource Planning and Economics at The Wilderness Society (1991-1994). During his eleven year tenure at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, his work included non-game migratory birds and international affairs, and supervising 18 cooperative research units.