Chuck Gipp

Chuck Gipp, soil conservation administrator for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship since 2008, has been named deputy director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Gipp, a lifelong dairy farmer who is respected in both production agriculture and environmental circles, said he hopes to foster understanding and cooperation between the two often-opposed groups.

“Both are important to Iowans, and we need to bring both sides together and strike a sustainable balance,” Gipp, 63, of Decorah, said.

“In Chuck Gipp, we are bringing onboard someone who is not only very dedicated and knowledgeable about conservation of our natural resources but also a very talented individual in working with our stakeholders and Legislature,” said DNR Director Roger Lande.

Gipp, who will begin his new job Aug. 5, served in the Iowa House from 1990-2008 and was the majority leader from 2003-2007.

He succeeds Pat Boddy, who recently resigned to take a job with a Des Moines architecture firm.

Boddy, who was paid $116,000 per year, had been deputy director since January 2009 and served as interim director from September through January 2011, when Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Lande as director.